352.07731 
T777 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT 
HARRISON  UP  TO 
DATE 


THE  TRUTH 
ABOUT 
HARRISON 
UP  TO  DATE 


TOLD  BY  THE 
RECORDS  AND 
THE  PRESS 


MARCH     26,     1903 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT 
HARRISON 
UP  TO  DATE 


TOLD  BY  THE  RECORDS 
AND  THE  PRESS 


MARCH    26.   1903 


JOHN     F.     HIGGINS,    PRINTER, 

196-198     CLARK     ST. 

CHICAGO 


\ 


7-7-77  x//  ^'*+ 

THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE. 


' '  We  may  thank  our  stars  for  the  presence  in  the  Mayor's 
office  of  an  honest  man  with  a  club." 

—Tht  Chicago  Times- Her  aid,  July  14,  1897. 


THE  COUNCIL  RECORDS  TEEM  WITH  HARRISON'S  VETOES 
OF  BAD  LEGISLATION. 

Here  are  a  few  samples: 

PEOPLE'S  GAS  June  21,   1897,  Mayor  Harrison  vetoed  a 

COMPANY  .-,  .,         . 

Council   order  allowing1  the  People  s  Gas 

Light  and  Coke  Company  to  tear  up  the  streets  and  providing 
that  their  repaving  be  paid  for  by  the  city,  for  the  reason  that 
it  burdened  the  city  with  expense  properly  chargeable  to  said 
company. 

Council  Proceeding*,  1897-98,  page  416. 


THE  NOTORIOUS  June  28,  1897,  the  Mayor  vetoed  the  noto- 

"COMMON WEALTH  rious  Commonwealth  Electric  Company  or- 

ELECTRIC"  dinance,  for  the  reasons  that : 

1.  The  names  of  the  beneficiaries  were  not  known; 

2.  The  powers  granted  were  altogether  too  broad; 

3.  District  in   which   underground  wires  were  required  too 

restricted ; 

4.  Charges  to  be  made  to  private  consumers  too  great ; 

5.  City's  consideration  for  the  rights  and  privileges  granted 

was  too  small ;  and, 

6.  The  proposed  term  of  grant  was  too  long. 

— Council  Proceeding!,  1897-98,  page  475. 

"Mayor  Harrison's  chief  power  in  his  last  two 
terms  has  been  gained  by  placing  the  interests  of  the 
people  above  the  selfish  interests  of  the  politicians, " 

— Chicago  Journal,  December  7,  1902. 


UNIVERSITY  OF 

ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


THE   THDTil    ABOUT   HARBISON  UP  TO   DATE. 


The  Council  passed  the  ordinance  over  the  Mayor's  veto, 
and  it  is  the  first  and  last  so-called  boodle  ordinance  that  has 
beeome  a  law  during  Mayor  Harrison's  three  administrations. 

THE  "CHICAGO  July  6,  1897,  the  Mayor  vetoed  the  ill-con- 

GENERAL  RAILWAY"         sidered  and  improvident  ordinance  of  the 
Chicago   General  Railway   Company^    for 
the  reasons  that: 

'  'The  compensation  running  to  the  City  in  return  for  said 
franchise  is  insufficient.  The  powers  granted  in  Section  1 2  of 
said  ordinance  are  so  broad  as  to  practically  amount  to  an 
electric  lighting  franchise,  and  certain  conditions  which  should 
be  incorporated  in  every  traction  franchise  are  absent  from  said 
ordinance.  I  refer  to  the  ultimate  placing  of  all  trolley  wires 
underground,  the  introduction  in  use  of  the  grooved  rail,  and 
the  paving  by  street  railway  companies  of  all  streets  used  by 
them  from  curb  to  curb. " 

—  Council  Proceedings,  1897-98,  page  531. 

THE  ODIOUS  GEN-  July  12,  1897,  Mayor  Harrison  vetoed  the 

ERAL  ELECTRIC  scandalous  General  Electric  Company  or- 

ORDINANCE  dinance  by  which  the  company  sought  to 

avoid  its  obligations  to  the  City  and  prop- 
erty owners  who  had  signed  frontage  consents  for  the  company, 
for  the  reason,  as  he  stated,  that : 

"It  is  against  the  policy  of  this  administration  to  permit 
the  unconditional  use  of  the  overhead  trolley  wire;  an  for 
the  further  reason  that  this  administration,  favoring  as  it  does 
the  ultimate  introduction  of  the  so-called  grooved  rail,  cannot 
countenance  any  ordinance  which  does  not  contemplate,  sooner 
or  later,  its  use. " 

''Mayor  Harrison  *  *  *  has  annihilated  boodle 
ordinances,  has  administered  a  quietus  to  franchise- 
grabbers,  has  well  safeguarded  the  interests  of  the 
people. — Chicago  Journal,  Decsmber  26,  1902. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE. 


And  for  the  further  reason  that  the  ordinance  was  a  fla- 
grant breach  of  the  contract  between  the  company  and  the 
owners  who  signed  frontage  consents  along  its  proposed  line 
and  of  the  contract  between  the  company  and  the  City;  and 
that  "it  smacked  of  shady  methods,  to  say  the  least." 

—Council  Proceedings,  1897-98,  page  560. 

The  Mayor's  veto  was  sustained,  and  in  connection  with  it 
Harrison  made  his  first  appearance  as  the  first  Mayor  of  Chi- 
cago to  fight  the  Council  aggressively  in  matters  of  vicious  legis- 
lation. 

"The  Mayor  and  that  honest  minority  which  stands  with 
him  have  done  their  duty  nobly.  They  have  shown  not  only 
that  they  are  honest,  but  also  that  they  are  good,  stubborn, 
effective  fighters.  His  Honor,  in  particular,  has  demonstrated 
that  he  knows  both  what  is  right  and  how  to  go  about  securing 
it  His  blunt,  straightforward  method  is  refreshing." 

— Chicago  Journal,  July  14, 1897. 

'  'Citizens  of  Chicago  cannot  be  too  grateful  for  the  masterly 
manner  in  which  Mayor  Harrison  conducted  his  fight  for  the 
preservation  of  the  contract  which  was  entered  into  between  the 
City  and  the  General  Electric  Railway  Company. " 

Evening  Pott,  July  13, 1897. 

AGAINST  UNBUSINESS-     October    13,    1897,   the  Mayor,    following 
LIKE  METHODS  IN  out  his  promises  of  a  businesslike  adminis- 

CITY  AFFAIRS.  tration  of   City  affairs,    vetoed  an   order 

closing:  the  City  Hall  at  i  o'clock  Saturday 
afternoons  during  the  year,  for  the  reason  that : 

"It  is  necessary  every  department  should  work  more 
rather  than  fewer  hours  in  order  that  the  work  of  the  City  may 

''Mayor  Harrison  is  net  of  the  Journal's  political 
faith,  bat  he  is  in  many  respects  one  of  the  best  of- 
ficials Chicago  ever  had." — Chicago  Journal,  May  11,  1901. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE. 


be  properly  expedited.  The  City  should  be  run  on  the  same 
basis  as  any  large  business  house,  and  it  is  not  the  custom  to 
close  any  mercantile  establishment  Saturday  afternoons  except 
during  the  heated  season." 

— Council  Procudings  1897- 98,  page  676. 

CONSUMERS'  March  7,  1898,  the  Mayor  vetoed  the  Con- 

ELECTRIC.  sumers'    Electric    Light    Company    ordi- 

nance, for  the  reason  that: 

"Said  ordinance  does  not  sufficiently  insure  compensation 
to  the  City. " 

—Council  Proceedings  1897-98,  page  1862. 

FOR  COMPENSATItN  April  n,  1898,  Mayor  Harrison  vetoed  an 
TO  CITY.  ordinance  permitting  the  Chicago,  Milwau- 

kee and  St.  Paul  Railway  Company  to  in- 
stall a  trolley  line  on  its  Evanston  Division,  for  the  reasons 
that: 

"The  compensation  from  said  company  to  the  City  was  inad- 
equate; no  requirement  was  contained  in  the  ordinance  for  the 
paving  of  the  streets  between  the  rails  where  the  company  was 
to  make  use  of  any  part  of  a  public  street ;  and  there  was  no 
provision  for  the  removal  of  overhead  wif  es  in  view  of  future 
elevation  of  the  roadway. " 

— Council  Proceedings,  1898-1899,  page  3. 

FOR  ECONOMY.  October    17,     1898,    the    Mayor    vetoed, 

among  other  things,  the  erection  of  a 
municipal  reviewing  stand  for  the  Peace  Jubilee. 

"For  the  reason  that  the  administration  cannot  afford  to 
spend  money  for  a  purpose  of  this  kind  when  the  City  is  ham- 

"/  believe  that  honesty  should  be  the  qualifica- 
tion for  Aldermen,  and  I  don't  care  whether  a  man  is 
a  Democrat,  a  Republican,  a  Populist,  or  what,  so 
long  as  he  is  for  the  city's  interest  and  not  for  his 
own  poc&et." 

— Mayor  Harrison  in  Chicago  Record-Herald,  March  23,  1902. 


THB  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARBISON  UP  TO  DATE. 


pered  for  money  in  the  Street  Cleaning,  Bridge,  and  other  De- 
partments. There  are  too  many  necessities  demanding  the 
expenditure  of  City  Funds  to-day  for  the  City  Government  to 
spend  money  on  pure  luxuries. " 

— Council  Proctedinqi,  1898-1899,  page  770. 

MORE  VETOES  OF  BAD  "MAYOR  HARRISON'S  SEVEN  VETOES.  — 
LEGISLATION.  Mayor  Harrison  was  a  busy  man  yester- 

day. *  *  *  He  was  preparing  a  num- 
ber of  vetoes  for  the  instruction  of  the  City  Council  and,  inci- 
dentally, for  the  discipline  of  several  Aldermen.  *  *  *  It 
was  a  great  night  for  Mayor  Harrison,  and  he  has  the  thanks  of 
the  community  for  the  good  use  he  made  of  his  veto  power. " 

—Evening  Post,  October  18, 1898. 

A  FULL  DAY'S  WORK  November  9,  1898,  the  Mayor  again  in- 
FOR  A  FULL  DAY'S  sisted  upon  the  City's  getting  a  full  day's 

PAY.  work  for  a  full  day's  pay  and  vetoed  an 

order  for  Saturday  half  holiday  through- 
out the  year.  He  said : 

"The  City  is  to-day  hampered  by  the  need  of  money  in 
every  department.  A  large  increase  of  the  force  is  required 
by  the  Police  Department,  the  bridges  are  going  to  rack  and 
ruin  for  the  lack  of  money  to  put  them  in  decent  condition. 
The  garbage  of  the  City  cannot  be  disposed  of  effectually  with- 
out a  large  increase  in  the  appropriation.  The  same  conditions 
obtain  in  all  branches  of  the  City  Government.  A  half  holiday 
on  Saturdays  would  be  peculiarly  unfortunate  in  the  Street  and 
Alley  Cleaning  Department,  because  it  would  throw  the  teams 
of  the  City  out  of  service  Saturdays  after  noon,  when  on  account 

"Certainly  this  is  a  most  admirable  statement  of 
the  duty  of  a  good  citizen  as  well  as  of  a  party  leader 
in  municipal  affairs," — Chicago  Record-Herald,  March 23,  1902. 


THS  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARBISON  UP  TO  DATE. 


of  no  work  being  done  on  Sunday,  a  good  systematic  cleaning 
up  is  most  required.  *  *  *  Before  such  a  step  can  be 
adopted  *  *  *  with  prudence  and  justice  to  the  taxpayers 
of  the  community,  it  will  be  necessary  so  largely  to 
increase  the  revenues  of  the  City  that  the  payment  of  one- 
twelfth  of  the  entire  payroll  without  corresponding  service 
being  rendered  shall  not  fall  as  a  calamity  on  the  City." 

— Council  Proceedings,  1898-1899,  page  874. 

GRABBING  ORDINANCE  January  30,    1899,  the  Mayor  vetoed  the 

OF  ILLINOIS  TELE-  obnoxious   Illinois  Telephone    and    Tele- 

PHONE  AND  TELE-  graph  Company  ordinance  because,  as  he 

GRAPH  CO.  stated: 

1.  It  failed  to  specify  time  limit  for  completion  of  plant; 

2.  It  granted  the  right  to  tear  up  any  newly  paved  streets; 

3.  It  was  too  broad  in  permitting  the  bringing  of  wires  to  the 

surface  in  every  block  and  carrying  them  for  four 
blocks  on  poles,  roofs,  etc. ; 

4.  It  failed  to  require  metallic   circuits  necessary  for   good 

service ; 

5.  It  gave  the  City  no  right  to  use  the  Company's  poles  and 

ducts; 

6.  The   time   granted    (40   years)    was    altogether   too    long 

and  there  was  no  provision  for  ultimate  municipal 
ownership ; 

7.  It  provided  for  no  compensation  to  the  City. 

—Council  Proceedings,  1898-1899,  page  144  J. 

4 'And  the  Mayor  is  to  be  congratulated  that,  hav- 
ing recognized  that  his  duty  to  Chicago  is  higher  than 
to  his  party,  he  has  had  the  courage  and  public  spirit 
to  announce  it  thus  boldly." 

—Chicago  Record-Herald,  March  23   1902. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISOX  UP  TO  DATE. 


VETO  OF  SALARY  March  27,  1899,  the   Mayor  vetoes  salary 

INCREASE.  increase  of  City  employes  and  helps  the 

taxpayer. 

— Council  Proceedings,  1898-99,  pagt  1957. 

"HARRISON  AND  THE  TAXPAYERS. — Mayor  Harrison  again 
demonstrated  his  loyalty  to  the  interests  of  the  taxpayer  when 
he  vetoed  the  salary  grab  action  of  the  appropriation  bill  at  the 
Council  meeting  last  night,  and  the  people  will  not  overlook  the 
act.  *  *  *  It  is  not  every  Mayor  who  would  do  such  a 
courageous  thing  in  behalf  of  the  ;  >ple  during  the  closing 
week  of  a  political  campaign  in  which  he  was  vitally  interested. 
*  *  *  Mayor  Harrison  was  satisusd  the  increase  was  unfair 
and  should  not  stand,  and  he  took  the  first  possible  opportunity 
to  make  his  convictions  known,  totally  disregarding  the  day 
and  date. " 

—Chicago  Record,  March  28,  1899. 

BALKS  IMPROVIDENT  November  13,  1899,  the  Mayor  vetoed  an 
SALE  OF  VALUABLE  order  providing  for  the  sale  of  the  "Boston 
CITY  PROPERTY.  store  property, "  saying  to  the  Council  : 

"I  do  not  approve  of  the  selling  of  good  income-bearing 
property  for  any  purpose.  I  am  in  thorough  harmony  with  the 
underlying  spirit  of  this  order.  The  necessity  of  establishing 
a  small  park  system  affording  breathing  spots  in  the  over- 
crowded inside  wards,  for  the  children  of  these  densely  popu- 
lated districts,  appeals  to  all  of  us.  The  municipality  can 
undertake  no  more  laudable  work  than  that  of  providing  play- 
grounds close  to  the  homes  for  the  children  of  such  of  our  citi- 

' "The  vote  is  one  of  confidence  in  Mayor  Harri- 
son's personal  honesty,  and  a  just  rebuke  to  the  at- 
tacks upon  the  credit  9f  Chicago." 

—Record-Herald,  April  3,  1901. 


10  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  DP  TO  DATE. 

zens  as  cannot  afford  the  luxury  of  private  yards.  *  *  *  The 
argument  is  advanced  that  the  property  sought  to  be  disposed 
of  has  reached  its  maximum  value.  The  proponents  of  this 
argument  lack  faith  in  the  future  of  Chicago.  At  every  period 
in  the  history  of  our  City  the  same  idea  has  found  voice.  For- 
tunately for  Chicago,  however,  in  the  past  this  note  of  warning 
has  been  sounded  by  citizens  of  other  cities,  who  could  not  un- 
derstand the  spirit  of  progress  and  advancement  that  domi- 
nated our  citizens ;  and  the  citizens  of  Chicago  have  proceeded 
in  the  building  up  of  this  great  municipality  with  the  firm  con- 
viction that  they  were  laying  the  foundation  stones  for  the 
future  metropolis  of  the  world. " 

—Council  Proceedings,  1899-1900,  page  1549. 

MAKES  THE  COUNCIL  On  February  26,  1900,  Mayor  Harrison 
CONSIDER  THE  CITY'S  vetoed  an  ordinance  increasing  the  scale  of 
WELFARE  FIRST.  wages  to  be  paid  by  the  City  to  its  employes, 

and  in  his  message  to  the  Council  said : 

"The  City  is  in  no  position  to-day  to  raise  the  salaries  of 
its  employes.  Our  bridges  are  either  closed  or  rapidly  going 
to  pieces ;  our  streets  are  dirty  and  demand  the  employment  of 
more  men  if  they  are  to  be  put  and  kept  in  anything  like  decent 
condition ;  the  clay  holes  in  which  the  City  at  present  is  depos- 
iting its  refuse  are  rapidly  filling,  and  the  day  is  almost  here 
when  the  City  must  have  reduction  and  incinerating  plants  to 

take  care  of  the  garbage ;  the  police  force 
URGES  MORE  POLICE. 

is  too  small,  and  its  size  should  be  in- 
creased if  life  and  property  are  adequately  to  be  protected ; 

"No  man  has  dared  hint  that  Mayor  Harrison  has 
been  the  beneficiary,  directly  or  indirectlyt  of  any 
franchise  that  has  passed  the  City  Council." 

—Chicago  Journal,  December  26,  1902. 


THE   TRUTH   ABOUT   HARRISON   UP   TO   DATE.  11 

the    electric    lighting    system    should    be 
MORE  ELECTRIC  LIGHTS. 

extended    so    that   every  street  in    every 

ward  will  be  well  lighted ;  small   parks  in   the   thickly  settled 

wards  are  demanded  as  playgrounds  and 
AND  SMALL  PARKS  AND 
PLAYGROUNDS  FOR  THE   breathing  spots  for  both  young  and  old, 

PEOPLE  AND  THEIR          to  whom  fortune  has  denied  the  privilege 

CHILDREN.  f  ,     f    .<     .  m,  , 

of  a  yard  of  their  own.     These  and  many 

other  demands  rightfully  made  by  your  constituents  should  be 
complied  with  before  there  should  be  any  question  of  a  salary 
increase  for  any  class  of  City  employes.  The  public  at  large 
is  more  interested  in  good  service  than  in  the  rate  of  wages  its 
employes  receive.  It  is  willing  to  pay  each  of  its  employes  an 
honest  wage,  but  before  making  an  increase  over  what  has 
been  the  settled  standard  for  a  decade,  it  demands — and  justly, 
too — that  your  Honorable  Body  shall  givs  it  the  service  for 
which  it  pays  its  taxation. " 

— Council  Proceedings,  1899-1900,  page  25"  7. 

THE  FAMOUS  June  25'  I9°°'  the  Mavor  vetoed  the  per- 

nrncw  r»«  UCTO  nicious  ordinance  permitting  the  Ogden 

Gas  Company  to  sell  out  to  the  Gas  Trust 

in  defiance  of  the  terms  of  the  company's  franchise,  for  the  rea- 
sons that:  (i),  the  proposed  ordinance  "renders  nugatory  the 
obligation  imposed  upon  the  Ogden  Gas  Company  by  its  origi- 
nal ordinance  to  furnish  all  the  people  of  the  City  of  Chicago 
with  gas  at  ninety  cents  a  thousand;"  (2),  the  ordinance  "  fails 
to  provide  for  additional  compensation  to  the  City  of  Chicago." 
The  Mayor  said : 

"The    people   of    Chicago   have    the   right  to  expect  and 
demand  that  a  franchise    granted  by  their  City  Council  and  of 

"With  Harrison  in  the  saddle  the  property  owners 
will  not  have  to  stand  guard  st  night  with  shotguns  to 
save  the  streets  and  alleys  from  being  pilfered." 

— Chicago  Journal,  December  2,  1902. 


12  THK  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATB. 

great  value  to  the  holders  shall  be  operated  in  the  spirit  in 
which  it  was  granted ;  they  have  a  further  demand  that  no  val- 
uable privilege  or  enjoyment  of  existing  privileges  shall  be 
granted  without  adequate  compensation  therefor  being  paic 
into  the  City  treasury. " 

—Council  Proceedings,  1 900-1901,  page  C63. 

This  was  followed  up  January  6,  1902,  by  Mayor  Harrison 
recommending  an  ordinance,  which  was  passed,  declaring  that 
the  rights  and  privileges  granted  to  the  company  by  the  city 
were  of  no  more  force  and  effect  by  reason  of  the  company's 
violation  of  its  agreement  with  the  City. 

—Council  Proceedings,  1901-1902,  page  1677. 

rnMTiiuiicc  cfiP  April  8,  1901,  Mayor  Harrison  vetoed  an 

win?  ordinance    on    the    ground    that    it   was 

"against  the  policy  of  the  present  admin- 
istration to  permit  switch  tracks  to  be  laid  either  on  the  surface 
or  on  elevated  structures,  on  or  across  City  streets  and  alleys, 
without  the  payment  of  compensation  to  the  City. " 

—Council  Proceedings,  1901-1902,  page  2. 

HARRISON'S    PART    IN    CONSTRUCTIVE     LEGISLATION. 

More,  than  any  other  Mayor,  Harrison  has  advised  and 
recommended  to  the  City  Council  legislation  for  the  advantage 
of  the  whole  city. 

COMPENSATION  FOR  July  6,  1897,  as  indicating  his  policy  with 
PUBLIC  FRANCHISES,  reference  to  public  franchises,  in  a  message 
to  the  Council  he  urged  that  in  every  traction 
ordinance  provision  should  be  made  for  adequate  compensation, 
and  "the  ultimate  placing  of  all  trolley  wires  under  ground, 

"Boston  and  the  East  have  much  to  learn  from 
Chicago  in  advanced  methods  of  public  school  in- 
struction. "—Record-Herald,  May  26,  1901. 


TUB   TttUTII   ABOUT   HARRISON   UP   TO   DVTE.  ]3 

the  introduction  in  use  of  the  grooved  rail,  and  the  paving-  by 
the  street  railway  companies  of  all  streets  used  by  them,  from 
curb  to  curb. " 

—Council  Proceedings  1897-1898,  page  531. 


HIS  WELL-KNOWN  December  6,  1897,  in  a  communication  to  the 
EDUCATIONAL  Council,  Harrison  asked  that  authority  be 

COMMISSION.  given  him  to  appoint  a  committee  to  inquire 

into  the  Chicago  Public  School  System.  This  authority  was 
given  and  he  appointed  the  Commission  of  eleven  members, 
consisting  of  members  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  of  the 
City  Council  and  of  men  prominent  in  the  professions.  Of  the 
work  of  this  Commission  a  high  authority  and  eminent  critic 
said  : 


"  The  result  of  all  this  labor  is  one  of  the  most  important 
educational  documents  ever  produced.  It  cannot  fail  to  attract 
widespread  attention  and  excite  deep  interest  wherever  the  im- 
portance of  public  education  is  understood.  It  affords  a  striking 
example  of  a  necessary  piece  of  work  done  in  the  right  way ; 
and  it  is  much  to  the  credit  of  Mayor  Harrison  that  he  should 
have  taken  the  initiative  in  this  commendable  enterprise.  We 
have  said  more  than  once  that  of  the  duties  incumbent  upon 
the  Chief  Executive  of  a  great  city  those  which  relate  to  the 
conduct  of  the  Public  Schools  are  paramount  to  all  others ;  and 
in  the  present  case,  as  perhaps  never  before  in  the  history  of 
Chicago,  the  importance  of  these  duties  seems  to  have  been 
realized. " 

— The  Dial,  January  16,  1899. 

"The  Mayor  has  evinced  unusual  and  gratifying 
appreciation  of  the  qualifications  that  should  govern 
in  appointments  to  the  school  board." 

—Record -Herald,  May  29,  1901. 


14  THE  TKDTH   ABOUT   HARBISON   UP   TO   DATE. 

REDUCES  INTEREST      April  n,    1898,  in  his  annual  message,  Har- 

ONE-HALF.  rison  announced  the  refunding  of  $100,000.  oo 

7  per  cent,  twenty-year  bonds  at  the  reduced 

interest  of  3.5  per  cent.,  and  their  sale  at  a  premium  of  1.0366, 

and  the  reduction  of  interest  on  time  warrants  from  6  to  5  per 

cent,  and  the  reduction  in  bonded  debt  of  the  city  $65,000.00. 

"The  Mayor  further  said  : 

"Instead  of  sitting  down  and  weeping  over  the  insufficiency 
of  civic  revenue,  the  administration  grappled  the  task  of  giving 
the  city  more  light,  of  inaugurating  an  intercepting  sewer  sys- 
tem which  results  in  giving  the  City  absolutely  pure  water,  in 
arranging  for  the  establishment  of  what  was  regarded  as  an 
almost  perfect  garbage  system,  and  in  seeing  to  it  that  track 
elevation  should  be  a  fact  and  not  a  theory." 

— Council  Proceedings,  1898-1899,  page  4. 

TO  REGULATE  February    n,    1899,    Harrison   suggested 

TELEPHONE  RATES.          that  in  all  new  telephone  ordinances  the 
city  reserve  the  right  to  regulate  the  rates 
charged  for  the  public  service. 

—Council  Proceedings,  1898  1899,  page  1692. 

INSTALLS  ELECTRIC        March  23,   1899,  Harrison  suggested  that 
LIGHT  PLANTS.  electric  light  plants  be  installed  at   new 

water   works   pumping    stations,    thereby 
saving  $36,000.00  anmially  to  the  city. 

—Council  Proceedings  1899-1900,  page  1794. 

COMPENSATION  September  25,  1899,  the  Mayor  in  a  mes- 

FOR  PRIVATE  USE  sage  to  the  Council  presented  a  tabulated 

OF  PUBLIC  SPACE.  statement  of  public  street  and  allej'^ce 

occupied  by  private  persons,   and  t^iged 
the  Council  to  require  adequate  compensation  therefor,  saying : 

'.'  I  have  always  held  that  no  matter  how  trivial  might  be 
the  private  use  of  tmblic  property,  proper  compensation  should 

"The  city  may  be  proud  of  the  Mayor  and  Mrs. 
Harrison  for  the  graceful  courtesy  with  which  they 
filled  the  part  of  host  and.  hostess  in  the  city's  behalf.  " 

— Chicago  Tribune  (Prinse  Henry's  visit),  March  5,  1902. 


THH   TKDTH   ABOUT   HAURISON   ~CP   TO   DATE.  13 

be  required,  and  since  1897  the  various  privileges  of  this  char- 
ter have  borne  such  compensation-" 

— Council  Proceedings,  1899-1900,  page  1182. 

The  same  policy  has  been  carried  out  with  regard  to  all 
private  uses  of  the  streets,  such  as  switch  tracks,  conduits, 
alley  bridges,  street  scales,  store  windows,  etc.  The  revenue 
to  the  city  from  these  sources,  due  entirely  to  the  Mayor's 
efforts,  amounts  to  not  less  than  $50,000  ANNUALLY. 

— Comptroller' 's  Book*. 

SEWER  CONSTRUCTION.    November  13,  1899,  Mayor  Harrison  sub- 
mitted to  the  Council  an  ordinance  author- 
izing the  construction  of  Sections  "G"  and  "H"  of  the  inter- 
cepting sewer  system  by  day  labor.     He  said : 

' '  The  best  bid  this  or  any  other  administration  charged 
with  the  completion  of  such  an  undertaking  could  make  for 
public  favor  would  be  to  do  the  work  cheaply  and  well.  Econ- 
omy of  administration  as  well  as  perfection  of  construction  will  be 
demanded  by  the  public,  and  neither  end  could  be  gained  were 
the  work  prostituted  to  political  ends.  Any  attempt  so  to 
prostitute  the  work  would  merit  the  public's  sharp  condemna- 
tion and  receive  it  in  full  measure." 

The  Mayor  showed,  furthermore,  the  advantage  to  the  com- 
munity of  having  the  work  done  by  day  labor,  as  the  contrac- 
tor's profit  would  go  in  higher  wages  to  the  citizens  who  actu- 
ally did  the  work. 

—Council  Proceedings  1899-1900,  page  1544. 

Actual  results  justify  the  Mayor's  position.  The  work  done 
by  day  labor  has  resulted  in  great  saving  to  the  city. 

(See  page  30.) 

"Mayor  Harrison  in  his  official  life  has  set  a  good 
example  to  the  people  of  Chicago— not  part,  but  all  of 
the  people— that  is  worth  much." 

—Chicago  Journal,  October  20,  1902. 


18  THE   TKUTII   ABOUT    HARRJSOX   L'P   TO   DATE. 

While  the  contractors'  ring  has  fought  the  Mayor  on  a  tech- 
nicality and  to  an  extent  successfully  in  the  lower  courts,  he  is 
yet  carrying  on  his  fight  for  economy  by  appeal  to  the  Supreme 
Court. 

PAYMENT  FOR  November  20,  1899,  the  Mayor  submitted 

PRIVILEGES.  to  the  Council  a  list  of  upward  of  three  hun- 

dred switch  tracks  in  use  within  the  City 

limits,  with  the  suggestion  that  the  Council  take  the  matter  up 
with  a  view  to  increasing  the  revenue  of  t"he  City  by  compelling 
the  owners  of  privileges  in  the  public  streets  to  pay  adequate 
compensation  for  them." 

—Council  Proctedings  1899-1900,  page  1618. 

RECREATION  FOR  December,  n,  1899,  the  Mayor  submitted 

THE  YOUTH.  to  the  Council  an  ordinance  providing  for 

free  use  of  the  City  hydrants  for  the  pur- 
pose of  affording  skating  rinks  by  flooding  vacant  property. 
The  Mayor  said : 

"Any  action  tending  to  afford  the  youth  of  the  City,  free 
of  charge,  healthful  and  amusing  exercise  is  not  only  directed 
towards  improving  their  physical  condition  but  gives  them  an 
occupation  for  leisure  hours  Jhat  might  in  other  circumstances 
be  devoted  to  questionable  or  demoralizing  occupations." 

— Council  Proceedings  1899-1900,  page  1835. 

PLANS  TO  SAVE  December  19,  1899,  the  Mayor  sent  to  the 

MONEY.  Council  a  message  calling  attention  to  the 

large  judgment  indebtedness  of  the  City 

and  suggested  that  the  judgments  be  refunded  by  means  of  bonds 
bearing  lower  rate  of  interest^  \h\\s  saving  the  City  abotit  $40,- 
ooo.  oo  per  year  in  interest  charges.  He  said  : 

''//  is  fortunate,  moreover,  that  the  council's  fi- 
nance committee  has  the  guidance  of  a  comptroller 
with  the  municipal  experience  and  business  sense  of 
Mr.  McGann.  "—Chicago  Record- Herald,  February  11,  1903. 


THE  TRUTH'ABOUT  HARBISON  UP  TO  DATE.  17 

"From  a  business  point  of  view  such  an  issue  ought  not 
to  be  objectionable  as  being  an  increase  of  the  City's  indebted- 
ness, for  it  would  be  merely  a  change  in  the  form  of  a  part 
of  it." 

—Council  Proceedings  1899  1900,  pagt  1926. 

The  proposition  to  issue  the  bonds  was  submitted  to  the 
electors  at  the  City  election  of  April,  1901,  and  although  receiv- 
ing an  overwhelming  majority  of  the  votes  cast  on  the  proposi- 
tion, failed  by  a  small  margin  of  a  majority  of  the  total  vote 
cast  at  the  election. 

Mayor  Harrison  has  taken  the  matter  up  again.  At  his 
instance  the  proposition  is  to  be  submitted  to  the  voters  at  the 
election  of  April  7,  1903. 

BREAKS  UP  A  January  3,    1900,  Harrison   submitted  an 

MONOPOLY.  ordinance,  subsequently  passed,  BREAKING 

UP    THE    MONOPOLY    IN     THE    PAVING     BRICK 

COMBINATION  and  opening  the  field  to  competition. 

— Council  Procetdings  1899-1900,  page  2026 

ESTABLISHES  ART  On  the  same  date   he  submitted  to  the 

COMMISSION.  Council  an  ordinance  ESTABLISHING  AN  ART 

COMMISSION. 

The  Mayor's  message  was  subsequently  carried  into  effect 
by  the  passage  of  his  ordinance  at  the  meeting  of  February  1 1 , 
1901 

THE  MAYOR  URGES  January  39,  1900,  the  Mayor  sent  to  the 

RIVER  IMPROVEMENT.       Council  a  message  in  which  he  pointed  out 

the   necessity   of   REMOVING   CENTER   PIER 

BRIDGES  AND  REPLACING  THEM  WITH  BASCULE  BRIDGES.      He  Said: 

"What  the  river  has  done  for  Chicago  in  the  past  it  may 
reasonably  be  expected  to  do  in  the  future.  Upon  it  our  City 


18  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE. 

largely  depends  for  the  maintenance  of  its  commerce.  While 
its  welfare  is  looked  after  with  a  watchful  eye,  while  its  inter- 
ests are  properly  guarded  and  its  condition  receives  careful 
attention,  the  supremacy  of  Chicago  as  a  shipping  center  will 
be  maintained,  and  the  freight  trade  of  flie  lakes  will  of  neces- 
sity go  to  and  from  this  harbor." 

SOLVES  THE  By  this  message  the  Mayor  was  the  first 

BRIDGE  PROBLEM  to  point  out  the  solution  of  the  center  pier 

bridge  problem  —  how  to  do  away   with 

them  and  how  to  obtain  modern  bascule  bridges  in  their  stead 
in  spite  of  the  City's  inability  to  increase  its  debt  or  to  pay  for 
them  out  of  current  revenue.  He  showed  that  center  piers 
were  in  the  greater  part  of  the  river  obstacles  to  the  flow  of 
water  required  of  the  Sanitary  District  by  law,  and  therefore 
that  the  expense  of  removing  them  and  replacing  the  bridges 
with  bascules  should  properly  be  borne  by  the  Sanitary  District. 

—Council  Proceedings  181)9-1900,  page  2291, 

AND  CETS  BRIDGES.  This  resulted  in  the  Sanitary  District  un- 
dertaking the  building  of  bascule  bridges 

and  the  removal  of  center  pier  bridges,  as  advised  by  the 
Mayor. 

Five  of  these  bridges — at  Taylor,  Canal,  Main  and  State 
streets  and  Ashland  avenue — have  been  completed.  The  new 
bridges  at  Randolph  and  Harrison  streets  are  under  construc- 
tion. 

The  City  has  recently  built  three  large  bascule  bridges — at 
Clybourn  place,  East  Division  street  and  Ninety-fifth  street. 

THE  MAYOR  PROTECTS  February  19,  1900,  the  Mayor  asked  the 
THE  WATER  FUND.  Council  to  refrain  from  placing  new  obli- 

gations on  the  Water  Fund,  pointing  out 

the  large  amount  of  indebtedness  outstanding  against  it,  and 
saying : 

"For  some  time  past  it  had  been  rather  the  fashion  to 

"The  City  of  Chicago  now  has  an  excellent  ac- 
count system.  There  was  a  time  when  that  system 
was  not  excellent,  A  change  was  effected." 

—Chicago  Tribune,  July  21,  1902. 


THK  TRUTH  ABOUT  HABRI9ON  UP  TO  DATE.  19 

attempt  to  saddle  all  character  of  work  properly  chargeable  to 
the  general  appropriations  of  the  City  upon  the  Water  Fund. 
The  result  of  this  has  been  to  excite  considerable  alarm  among 
bankers  and  financial  men  holding  certificates  issued  against 
the  receipts  of  the  Water  Department  and  to  make  the  work  of 
the  Comptroller  of  selling  new  water  certificates  more  than 
ordinarily  difficult." 

—Council  Proceedings  18SO-1900,  page  2448 


MAYOR  COMPELS  A  DE-  The  Union  Consolidated  Elevated  Rail- 
FAULTING  AND  REPUDI-  road  Company  in  1896  obtained  a  fran- 
ATING  RAILROAD  COM-  chise  to  compiete  the  Union  Loop,  and  in 
^NIrTR0FFMlNTPw^H  consideration  for  it  agreed  to  pay  a  fixed 
THE  CITY  compensation  to  the  City.  At  the  very 

first  opportunity  the  company  defaulted. 

When  payment  was  demanded  by  the  City 

the  company  repudiated  the  agreement.  The  Mayor  promptly 
submitted  to  the  Council  an  ordinance  to  forfeit  the  franchise. 

—Council  Proceedings,  1900-1901,  page  323. 


Two  weeks  later  the  Mayor  submitted  a  message  to   the 
Council  withdrawing  the  ordinance.    The  company  had  paid  up. 

—Council  Proeeedings.  1900-1901,  page  471. 


MAYOR  COLLECTS  The  Elevated  Road  on  the  South  Side  had 

BACK  DUES  FROM  owed  the  City  dues  for  compensation,  and 

ANOTHER  RAILROAD          had  been  delinquent  in  payment  from  1892 
COMPANY.  to  1897.     June  n,  1900,  the  Mayor  sug- 

gested to  the  Council  a  plan  for  collection 
which  was  adopted  by  the  Council. 

—Council  Proceedings,  1900-1901,  page  473. 

The  City  got  the  money. 

" Mayor  Harrison  has  touched  the  street  railways 
in  a  vital  point  in  demanding  that  they  obey  the  law." 

—Chicago  Daily  News,  December  23,  1901. 


20  THE  TRUTH  ABOtT  HAKKISON  UP  TO  DATE. 

ANOTHER  TRACTION  The    South   Chicago   City  Railway    Com- 

COMPANY  BROUGHT          pany  refused  to  pay  arrears  of  license  fees 
TO  TIME.  due  the  City.     The  Mayor  sent   a   com- 

munication to  the  Council,  with  an  ordi- 
nance, to  repeal  the  company's  rights. 

— Council  Proceedings,  1901-1903,  page  37. 

The  Company  thereupon  paid  in  full  ($3,058). 

— City  Collector's  Hooks. 

COMPELS  ELECTRIC         November   26,   1900,  Harrison   submitted 
LIGHT  COMPANIES  to  the  Council  a  list  of  persons  operating 

TO  PAY  electric  light  plants  and  using  street  and 

sidewalk  space  for  their  wires. 

—Council  Proceedings,  1900-1901,  page  1394. 

He  did  this  with  a  view  of  compelling  paj'ment  of  com- 
pensation therefor,  and  his  action  resulted  in  the  recalcitrant 
electric  light  companies  paying  their  just  dues  to  the  City. 

MAYOR  STOPS  January  7,   1901,   Mayor  Harrison  vetoed 

ILLEGAL  CONFES-  an  order  directing  a   confession  of  judg- 

SIONS  OF  JUDG-  ment  against  the  City,  for  the  reason  that: 
MENTS 

"The  confession  of  judgment  by  the  City  as  a  means  of 
paying  the  City's  debts  is  contrary  to  the  policy  of  this  adminis- 
tration. The  entry  of  judgments  for  this  purpose  in  this  man- 
ner violates  both  the  letter  and  the  spirit  of  the  Act  providing 
for  the  annual  appropriation  ordinance.  *  *  *  The  next 
appropriation  bill  is  soon  to  be  passed,  and  the  indebtedness 
mentioned  in  this  order  should  be  provided  for  in  that  bill;  and 
the  utterly  bad  practice  of  confessing  judgment  in  such  cases 
should  be  wholly  repudiated. " 

— Council,  Proceedings,  1900-1901,  page  1557. 

"Mayor  Harrison  established  an  excellent  prece- 
dent for  the  repression  of  anarchy  when  he  issued 
the  imperative  command  which  prevented  Emma 
Goldman  from  delivering  a  public  address  in  this 
city.  • ' — Chicago  Record-Herald,  October  4,  1901. 


THE  TRUTH   ABOUT   HAKUISON  UP   TO   DATE.  21 

"  *  *  *  It  should  serve  as  a  sufficient  notice  to  the 
Council  that  the  practice  of  paying  debts  by  confession  of  judg- 
ment must  be  abandoned,  and  that  appropriations  must  be  ade- 
quate to  meet  the  requirements  of  each  Department.  As  the 
Mayor  says,  'the  practice  violates  both  the  letter  and  the  spirit 
of  the  Act  providing  for  the  annual  appropriation  ordinance'." 

— Chicago  Time*- Herald,  January  9, 1901 


ESTABLISHES  BUREAU      January  21,    1901,    Mayor   Harrison   sub- 
OF  STATISTICS.  mitted  to  the  Council  a  message  calling 

attention  to  the  necessity  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  Bureau  of  Statistics.  He  said : 

"There  is  hardly  a  city  in  Europe  or  America  of  the  size 
and  importance  of  Chicago  which  has  not,  in  accordance  with 
the  scientific  spirit  of  the  age,  a  bureau  for  the  collection,  colla- 
tion and  distribution  of  statistical  information  regarding  the 
condition  of  affairs  of  the  municipality.  The  beneficent  re- 
forms of  the  present  time  are  chiefly  due  to  the  scientific  study 
and  perusal  of  statistics.  A  sure  test  of  the  goodness  or  bad- 
ness of  a  particular  measure  lies  in  an  appeal  to  the  same 
source.  To  understand  intelligently  the  needs  of  this  City  one 
must  understand  intelligently  the  details  of  the.  operation  of  its 
institutions. " 

—Council  Proceedings,  1900-1901,  pagj  1814. 

THE  MUNICIPAL  "In  its  municipal   library  and  bureau  of 

LIBRARY  AND  statistics  Chicago  has  an  asset  that  is  too 

BUREAU  OF  often  overlooked.      City  officials  depend 

STATISTICS.  upon  it  for  the  information  they  need  con- 

cerning their  own  and  other  cities,  news- 
paper workers  seek  it  almost  daily,  and  college  professors  from 
all  parts  of  the  world  write  to  it  for  aid  in  their  studies." 

— Chicago  Record- Herald,  March  5,  1903. 

"Knowledge  of  facts  is  as  important  an  aid  to 
successful  government  as  it  is  to  successful  busi- 
ness."— Chicago  Record-Herald,  March  5,  1903. 


22  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HAKUISOX  UP  TO  DATE. 

GOES  AFTER  ^  January  21,   1901,    Mayor   Harrison   sub- 

ANOTHER  DEL*IN-  mitted  to  the  Council  a  draft  of  an  ordi- 

QUENT  RAILWAY.  nance  repealing  the  Chicago  General  Rail- 

way Company  franchises,  for  the  reason 
that: 

' '  The  Company  has  failed  to  keep  its  right  of  way  in  repair 
and  has  paid  no  track  rental  except  for  the  year  ending  Decem- 
ber 31,  1896,  and  no  license  fees  since  April  i,  1896;  while  the 
service  rendered  the  public  has  been  of  the  most  unsatisfactory 
character.  There  is  due  the  City  for  track  rental  alone  the  sum 
of  $9,456.25,  in  spite  of  diligent  effort  on  the  part  of  the  City  to 
collect  it." 

—Council  Proceeding*,   1900-1901,  page  1814. 

The  Company  paid  up. 


MAYOR  POINTS  In  February,  1901,  the  Supreme  Court  of 

THE  WAY  OUT.  Illinois  decided  that  the  City  of  Chicago 

could  issue  no  more  bonds  for  the  con- 
struction of  bridges  or  other  permanent  improvements  because 
its  limitation  of  indebtedness  is  5  per  cent  of  the  assessed  valu- 
ation of  taxable  property  instead  of  the  actual  value,  and  has 
already  been  reached.  The  assessed  value  is  by  law  one-fifth 
of  the  actual  value.  The  Mayor's  plan  is  to  have  the  law 
changed,  making  the  assessed  value  one-half  the  actual  value 
instead  of  one-fifth,  but  not  increasing  the  taxes.  February  25, 
1901,  he  transmitted  to  the  Council  drafts  of  certain  acts, 

«  *  *  *  having  for  their  purpose  the  amending  of  the 
revenue  laws  of  the  State  in  order  that  the  City  of  Chicago  may 
be  enabled  to  make  the  permanent  improvements  it  needs  to-day 

4 "The  positive  stand  of  the  mayor  against  the  de- 
struction of  the  tunnels  is  a  commendable  step  in  the 
direction  of  a  solution  of  the  tunnel  problem." 

—Chicago  Record-Herald,  April  28,  1902. 


HE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE.  23 

and  to  pay  for  the  same  with  the  proceeds  of  a  bond  issue  rather 
than  with  a  portion  of  its  scanty  annual  revenue.  *  *  *  The 
change  from  one-fifth  to  one-half  the  cash  value  as  determining 
the  assessed  value  would  enable  the  City  to  issue  new  bonds  to 
an  amount  aggregating  $8,500,000,  or  merely  enough  to  cover 
the  most  imperative  present  needs  of  the  City  for  permanent 
improvements. 

In  order  that  the  taxes  of  to-day  should  not  be  affected  by 
this  change  of  valuation,  the  acts  limit  the  City  and  all  other 
taxing  bodies  in  the  State  to  40  per  cent,  of  their  present  rate 
of  taxes.  In  other  words,  the  burden  of  taxation — already 
grievous  for  our  citizens  to  bear — would  not  be  increased,  while 
the  task  of  providing  funds  to  pay  the  cost  of  permanent  im- 
provements would  be  divided  up  among  the  taxpayers  of  the  next 
twenty  years. " 

— Jfaj/or's  Message,  Council  Proceedings,  1900-1901,  page  2280. 

These  acts  were  presented  to  the  legislature  of  1901,  but 
failed  in  passage  in  spite  of  the  Mayor's  efforts.  They  have 
again  at  the  meeting  of  March  23,  1903,  been  presented  to  the 
City  Council  in  order  that  their  passage  might  be  urged  upon 
the  legislature  now  in  session  at  Springfield. 

Council  Proctedings,  1902-1903. 

TO  REQUIRE  In  the  acts  presented  the  Mayor  further 

REFERENDUM  TO  provided   against  improvident    issues    of 

THE  PEOPLE.  bonds  by  requiring  them  to  be  voted  upon 

by  the  people;  and  provided  for  a  Com- 
mission to  superintend  the  expenditure  of  proceeds  of  bonds 
when  sold. 

14 In  not  agreeing  to  the  destruction  of  the  river  tun- 
nels Mayor  Harrison  takes  a  position  that  is  sound  and 
tenable,  and  that  will  meet  with  the  approval  of  all 
who  have  given  any  thought  or  study  to  the  traction 
problem,  either  in  its  present  aspects  or  in  its  possible 
development.  "—Chicago  Record-Herald,  April  28,  1902. 


24  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE. 

HARRISON  ABOLISHES        October  21,    1901,    Mayor    Harrison    sub- 
WINEP.OOMS.  mitted  to  the  Council  an  ordinance  abol- 

ishing   "wine    rooms"   in    saloons.     The 
Mayor  said  : 

"Public  morals  suffer  greater  damage  from  the  wine-rooms 
than  from  almost  any  other  cause.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
particularize  the  evils  resulting  from  their  toleration ;  the  evils 
are  self -evident  and  firm  steps  should  be  taken  to  uproot  them." 

Council  Proceedings,  1901-1902,  page  976. 

The  Mayor's  ordinance  was  passed  by  the  Council  Decem- 
ber 9,  1901. 

Council  Proceedings,  1901-1902,  page  1501. 

' '  The  wine-room  ordinance  passed  by  the  City  Council  at 
its  last  session  is  not  to  be  regarded  as  a  bit  -of  harmless 
literature  for  the  edification  of  the  decent  element  of  the  com- 
munity. It  was  not  enacted  as  a  paper  ordinance  for  political 
effect.  The  saloon  wine-rooms  must  go.  This  is  the  edict  of 
Mayor  Harrison,  and  his  instructions  to  the  police  are  proof 
that  he  means  business. " 

Chicago  tiecord-Herald,  Dectmber  13,  1901. 


"Mayor  Harrison  has  not  missed  a  single  Council 
meeting  since  he  was  first  inaugurated  in  the  year 
1897.  "—Council  Proceedings,  April,  1897,  to  March  23,  1903. 


THE   TRUTH    ABOUT    11AUH1SON    UP   To    DATE.  25 

WORK  DONE  AND  PROGRESS  MADE  BY  DEPART- 
MENTS UNDER  HARRISON. 


THE  WATER  DEPARTMENT  GROWS  FROM  AN  OUT-OF- 
DATE,  INADEQUATE  AND  ILL-MANAGED  CONCERN 
INTO  A  GREAT  SYSTEM,  WITH  NEW  PUWPING  STA- 
TIONS, NEW  CRIB,  NEW  TUNNELS  AND  PIPES 
EXTENDED  TO  MEET  ALL  THE  CITY'S  NEEDS  FOR 
YEARS  TO  COME;  AND  A  BUSINESS  MANAGEMENT 
WHICH  REDUCES  THE  RATES  YET  MAINTAINS  THE 

REVENUE. 

INCREASE  IN  Under  Harrison  the  great  West  Side  has 

WATER  SUPPLY.  been  given  adequate  water  service  for  the 

first   time  in   its  history.     Never  before 

has  there  been  given  a  water  supply  above   the   second  stories 
of  houses  in  many  portions  of  the  West  Side. 

Number  of  gallons  ol  water  pumped  per  day  in  1896,  254,208,509 
Number  of  gallons  pumped  per  day  at  present  .    358, 101,710 

Miles  of  water  tunnels  in  1897 23. 

Miles  of  water  tunnels  in  1903.  .  .  ..37.7 


INCREASE  (63  per  cent  )  or  in  i.iiic  ; 14.7 

NEW  PUMPING  In  June,  1900,  a  new  pumping-  station  at 

STATIONS.  Central  Park  Avenue  and  Fillmore  Street, 

having  a  daily  capacity  of  60,000,000  gals., 

was  put  into  service.  In  December,  1900,  a  new  pumping 
station  at  Springfield  Avenue  and  Bloomingdale  Road,  having 
a  daily  capacity  of  60,000,000  gals.,  was  put  intD  use.  The 
effect  of  the  opening  of  these  two  new  pumping  stations,  pump- 

''The   Mayor   has  entered  into   the   campaign  for   a 
lowering  of  the  tunnels  with  commendable  spirit," 

— Chicago  Journal, 'November,  1902. 


26  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE. 

ing  through  a  new  pipe-distributing  system,  has  been  felt,  with 
the  result  that  the  section  of  the  City  on  the  west,  from  the  ex- 
treme north  as  far  south  as  Washington  Heights,  which  had 
heretofore  suffered  on  account  of  inadequate  pressure,  has  now 
a  water  supply  system  sufficient  for  years  to  come. 

Increase  in  pumping  capacity  since  1896,  26.7  per  cent. 


AND  ADDITIONS  TO  During  the  last  six  years  the  following 

SYSTEM  IN  LAST  additions  to  the  system  have  been  made : 

SIX  YEARS. 

LAKE  VIEW   PUMPING  STATION — 

One  14  million  gallon  pump.     Tunnel  system  remodeled. 

CHICAGO  AVENUE  PUMPING  STATION — 

A  new  modern  boiler  plant  installed.     Three  25  million 
gallon  pumps  contracted  for.     Tunnel  system  remodeled. 

FOURTEENTH  STREET  PUMPING  STATION — 
One  30  million  gallon  pump  installed. 

SIXTY-EIGHTH  STREET  PUMPING  STATION — 

One   14  million  gallon  pump  installed.     Boiler  plant  re- 
modeled.    Capacity  of  two  old  pumps  increased. 

WASHINGTON  HEIGHTS  PUMPING  STATION — 
One  i%  million  gallon  pump  installed. 

NORWOOD  PARK  PUMPING  STATION — 

One   air  lift   pump   installed.     One   additional  well  with 
pump  installed.      New  boiler  installed. 

"Victory  for    Transfer.  —  The  people   have    won   a 
signal  victory  in  the  transfer  case. " 

—Chicago  Journal,  Oct.  27,  1902. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HAKRISON  UP  TO  DATE.  27 

About  50  miles  of  large  main  feeders,  greatly  improving 
the  water  pipe  system  of  the  City,  have  been  laid. 

All  parts  of  the  City  have  thus  been  attended  to  and  the 
result  has  been  a  better  and  more  satisfactory  supply  of  water 
than  for  many  years  previous. 


THE  BUSINESS  Has  improved  to  a  most  marked  extent  un- 

MANAGEMENT  der  Harrison.   It  is  noteworthy  to  record,  in 

OF  THE  WAiER  view  of  previous  experiences  peculiar  to  this 

OFFICE  office i  that  no  scandals  or  rumors  have  been 

connected  with  it  during  the  past  six  years. 


MAYOR  HARRISON  May    i,    1898,    a   decrease   was    made   in 

REDUCES  WATER  water  rates,  pursuant  to  Mayor  Harrison  s 

RATES.  recommendation.    ' 


MAYOR  HARRISON  March   6,    1899,    a   further  decrease   was 

AGAIN  REDUCES  made  in  water  rates,  pursuant  to  Mayor 

WATER  RATES.  Harrison's  further  recommendation. 


SAMPLE  RESULT  Of  the  reduction  by  the  present  adminis- 

tration : 

In  1896  the  average  8-room  house  paid  for  water  $12.50  per  year 
In  1903  it  pays 10.50 


"The  citizens  of  Chicago  are  to  be  congratulated 
on  selection  of  special  Counsel  made  by  Corporation 
Counsel  Walker  to  act  as  advisers  of  the  local  trans- 
portation committee  in  the  work  of  framing  the  trac- 
tion franchise  extension  ordinances. " 

— Chicago  Evening  Post,  February  5,  1903, 


28  TUB  TKUTH  ABOUT  UAKBISOX  UP  TO  DATE. 

MR.  P.  D.  ARMOUR  In  connection  with  the  reduction  of  water 

WROTE  THE  rates  the  late  Philip  D.  Armour  wrote  to 

MAYOR  Mayor  Harrison:   ' 

"DEAR  SIR: — I  have  been  delayed  by  a  little  press  of 
business  from  doing  what  I  intended  to  do  some  time  ago, 
viz.,  to  thank  you  for  the  interest  taken  by  you  in  the  adjust- 
ment of  the  water  rates  for  this  City. 

The  rates  for  large  consumers  of  water  are,  under  present 
conditions,  entirely  satisfactory,  and,  until  the  Water  Depart- 
ment can  make  further  reductions,  I  feel  that  no  complaint 
can  be  reasonably  made. 

Personally  I  take  great  pleasure  in  assuring  you  of  my  ap- 
preciation of  your  efforts  in  conserving  the  great  manufactur- 
ing interests  of  Chicago.  The  broad-gauge  views  entertained 
by  you  are  in  line  with  those  held  by  your  respected  father 
when  the  same  question  was  before  him,  and  the  City  at  large 
is  to  be  congratulated  upon  your  liberal  handling  of  the 
subject. 

Allow  me,  also,  to  add  that  I  sincerely  hope  it  will  be  many  years  before  this 
City  may  be  deprived  of  your  wise  judgment  in  the  management  of  its  affairs. 

Yours  very  truly, 

PHILIP  D.   ARMOUR." 

The  present  administration  has  stripped  the  mains  in  the 
Stock  Yards  District  and  discovered  many  uncharted  pipes, 
thereby  preventing  "leakage"  in  that  district. 

Under  the  present  administration  the  percentage  of  expend- 
itures to  collections  has  been  continually  decreasing. 

It  cost  $288,497.34  to  collect  $3,003,692.61  in  1896,  or  9.6  per  cent. 
It  cost  1252,810.28  to  collect  $3,223,807.55  in  1902,  or  7.8  per  cent. 

"Chicago  was  able  to  make  a  good  showing  at 
the  annual  round-up  of  the  National  Municipal  League 
in  Boston.  An  incident  of  the  convention  was  the 
public  recognition  of  the  progress  made  by  this  city 
in  matters  of  municipal  reform,  a  progress  which  was 
marked  enough  to  evoke  special  felicitation  by  the 
secretary  of  the  league.  "—Chicago  Record-Herald,  May  19,  1902. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE.  29 

THE    GREAT    SEWEP    SYSTEM     BEING    BUILT     UNDER 

HARRISON. 

THE  NEW  SEWERS.  The  construction  of  the  intercepting-  sewer 

system,  according  to  the  plans  changed  and  modified  under 
Harrison's  administration,  has  been  completed  to  the  extent  of 
17.57  miles. 

The  intercepting  sewers  are  built  along  the  Lake  shore  to 
intercept  the  flow  of  sewage  into  the  Lake  and  turn  it  back  into 
the  Drainage  Canal.  The  intercepting  sewers  are  designed  to 
cut  off  and  prevent  the  flow  of  23  outfall  sewers  into  the  Lake 
along  the  City  Shore  from  North  to  South. 

HARRISON  HELPS  THE  To  complete  the  system  it  was  necessary 
DRAINAGE  CANAL  AND  to  construct  pumping  works  and  lateral 

THP  T4YPAYFRQ 

conduits.     The  Drainage  Board  was  about 

to  construct  pumping  works  and  lateral  conduits  in  order  to 
enable  it  to  supply  the  flow  required  by  law.  To  save  the 
double  expense  to  the  taxpayers  the  Mayor  suggested,  and  the 
Board  adopted,  the  plan  of  having  the  City  pay  the  expense  of 
the  construction  of  the  conduits  and  the  Drainage  Board  the 
expense  of  the  operation  of  them  and  the  pumping  works. 
The  first  work  of  this  nature  completed  was  the  construction  of 
the  Twelfth  and  Twenty-second  Street  .sewers,  reversing  the 
flow  from  the  Lake  to  the  River.  These  sewers  drain  a  densely 
populated  district,  and  have  been  estimated  to  carry  38  per  cent 
of  the  sewage  discharged  into  the  Lake.  The  immediate  result 
of  their  being  built  and  the  consequent  diversion  of  the  sewage 
was  noted  by  the  City  Chemist  in  the  reduction  of  40  per  cent 
in  the  pollution  of  the  Lake  water. 

Records  of  Sewer  Department. 

"Now  that  the  city  has  completed  the  39th  street 
sewer  perhaps  the  authorities  at  Washington  could 
do  no  better  than  to  hand  over  to  the  municipal 
government  the  work  of  completing  the  federal  build- 

ng.  "—Chicago  Daily  News,  March  7,  1903. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE. 


THE  39th  STREET  At  Thirty-ninth   Street  the  great  conduit 

5EWER-  20  feet  in  diameter  has  been  completed 

from  the  Lake  to  the  River,  a  distance  of  12, 123  feet.  The  in- 
take and  pumping  station — the  latter  with  the  enormous  capacity 
of  120,000  cubic  feet  of  water  a  minute — will  be  ready  for  use 
by  the  fall  of  this  year.  Then  all  the  sewage  of  the  city  from 
Diversey  avenue  on  the  north  to  75th  street  on  the  south — 
eleven  miles  of  Lake  front — will  have  been  diverted  from  the 
Lake  to  the  Drainage  Canal. 

Hecords  of  Department. 

TO  RESCUE  SOUTHERN  South  Chicago,  Grand  Crossing,  Burnside 
ENDfOF  CITY  FROM  and  other  parts  of  the  cjty  south  of  Seven- 

FLOODS.  c^-u  i-  i.  •  u- 

ty-nftn  street  have  always  been  subject 

to  overflow.     Land   has  been   purchased 

for  a  pumping  station,  and  the  assessment  roll  is  being  spread 
for  a  system  of  sewers,  fifteen  miles  in  length,  which  will  be 
pumped  into  the  intercepting  sewer  and  effectively  drain  all 
this  territory. 

ILLUSTRATION  OF  SAVING  Lowest  bid  for  building  14,994  lineal 
TO  CITY  BY  HARRISON'S  feet  of  intercepting  sewer  (running 

DAY  LABOR  PLAN.  ..    ,  *  -        , 

south  from  3901  street)  ranging  from  16 

feet  to  13}^  feet  in  diameter  was  $627,890.35 ;  that  is  to  say, 

By  contract,  average  cost  per  foot ?        41  87 

By  day  labor,  average  cost  per  foot 39  97 

Saving  to  City  per  foot '. $  1  90 

Total  saving  on  14,994  feet 28,488  69 

This,  notwithstanding  advance  of  15  to  20  per  cent  in  labor 
and  materials  after  bids  were  received. 

"Compared  with  New  York,  Chicago  is  a  re~ 
markably  economically  administered  city.  Its  rev- 
enues are  far  below  its  needs,  and  its  streets  are 
neglected  because  its  people  pay  such  a  small  tax 
rate  both  per  actual  -wealth  and  per  capita. " 

—Chicago  Record-Herald,  May  11,  1902, 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARBISON  UP  TO  DATE. 


31 


STREET   DEPARTMENT. 

NOTE    SOME    CHANGES    UNDER    HARRISON. 


Miles. 


There  were  of  asphalt  pavement  in  1896 45 . 94 

There  were  in  1901 100. 29 

There  are  now 129 . 54 

There  were  of  brick  pavement  in  1896 8 . 88 

There  were  in  1901 48.83 

There  are  now 68.20 

There  were  of  cedar  pavement  in  1896 752 . 58 

There  were  in  1901   749.40 

There  are  now  708.43 

There  were  of  granite  pavement  in  1896 25 . 20 

There  were  in  1901 30. 09 

There  are  now 35 . 87 

There  were  of  macadam  pavement  in  1896 344 . 31 

There  were  in  1901 387.08 

There  are  now 420.73 

Miles  of  Streets  paved  under  Harrison 318.32 

Since  1896  the  mileage  of  asphalt  pavement  has  been  nearly 
trebled;  the  mileage  of  brick  pavement  is  over  eight  times 
greater;  the  mileage  of  the  out-of-date  cedar  block  pavement 
has  been  decreased,  and  the  pavements  in  each  case  have  been 
replaced  with  more  siibstantial  ones. 


GREAT  INCREASE  IN 
PERMANENT  SIDEWALKS. 


Total  mileage  of  walks  existing  in  fol- 
lowing named  years: 


1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

Tola  I 

80  66 

98  88 

90  83 

95  80 

167  19 

120  67 

654  03 

Stone  walks  

3  27 

5  34 

4.77 

.    5  85 

.95 

2  58 

22  76 

6  80 

29  71 

98  79 

106  31 

241  61 

Totals  

83  93 

104  22 

102.40 

131  36 

266.93 

229.56 

918  40 

Records  of  Public  Works  and  Board  of  Local  Improvements. 


"The  civil  service  law  is  being  well  adminis- 
tered; it  has  been  of  great  service  to  the  public;  it  has 
raised  the  standard  of  public  work  and  has  greatly 
reduced  the  evil  effects  of  spoils." 

—Chicago  Evening  Post,  July  10,  1902. 


32  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARBISON  UP  TO  DATE. 


Under   prior   administrations   street  paving  contractors 

were  compelled  to  guarantee  their  work  for  only ....  5  years 

Under  Harrison  the  contractors  have  been  and  are  required  to 

guarantee  their  street  work  for 10  years 

Hecords  of  Board  of  Local  Improvement*. 

ABOLISHES  WRETCHED      The    unsatisfactory    contract    system    of 
CONTRACT  SYSTEM.  street   and  alley  cleaning  and  garbage  re- 

moval was  abolished  under  Harrison's  ad- 
ministration, and  the  work  was  undertaken  by  the  city  directly. 


RESULTS. 

In  1896,  number  of  complaints  (old  contract  system) 8,524 

In  1902,  number  of  complaints  (City  employment  system).  .1,417 

— Records  of  the  Department. 

WHY  NEW  YORK  IS  It  is  often  charged  that  the  streets  of 

CLEANER  THAN  CHICAGO.      New  York  are  better  cleaned  than  those 
of  Chicago.      True.      Why? 

New  York's  ctreet  mileage  is 2,572.41 

Chicago's  street  mileage  is t        4,163 . 11 

New  York  spent  in  1901  on  street  cleaning  and  gar- 
bage removal $5,192,660.00 

Chicago  could  spend  in  1901  on  same  only 944.123.00 

— Chicago  Statistics,  October,  1902. 

This  means  that 

Chicago  can  spend  for  cleaning  per  mile  only $    226. 76 

While  New  York  spends  for  cleaning  per  mile 2,019.40 

Nearly  10  times  as  mncJi 

"The  Journal  is  persuaded  that  Mayor  Harrison 
intends  to  be  as  vigilant  in  the  future  as  he  has  been 
in  the  past  in  regard  to  all  traction  questions  and  will 
protect  the  interests  of  the  city  faithfully. " 

— Chicago  Journal,  June  7,  1901. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  t'P  TO  DATE.  33 

DEPARTMENT    OF    ELECTRICITY. 

THE  ECONOMY  AND          Is  illustrated    by  the    following    results 
EFFECTIVENESS  OF          secured  within  the  last  six  years: 
THE  DEPARTMENT 

In  1896  total  street  lights  amounted  to  4, 236,800-candle  power 
In  1902  total  street  lights  amounted  to  11,600,000-candle  power 

In  1896  the  cost  was $  1,069,000  00 

In  1902  the  cost  was 936,179.00 

Increase  in  light  in  1902  over  1896  nearly 300  per  cent 

Decrease  in  annual  cost 132,831 .00 

A  LESSON  IN  MUNI-  In  1896  the  city  operated. . .    1,256  arc  lamps 

CIPAL  OWNERSHIP.  in  1993  the  city  is  operating 4,822  arc  lamps 

Cost  per  lamp  in  1896 $  96.40  per  year 

Cost  per  lamp  in  1902,  including  salaries  and  office  expenses    53 . 51  per  year 

MANY  MORE  LIGHTS         To  have  rented  from  a  private  com- 
FOR  MUCH  LESS  pany  the  4,508  arc  lamps  oper- 

MONEY.  ated  by  the  city  last  year  would 

have  cost $  524,837.00 

As  operated  from  the  municipal  lighting  plants  for  the  same 

period  the  cost  was   ; 241,208.00 

Actual  saving  to  the  city $  283,629.00 

A  reduction  in  the  cost  of  operating  the  municipal  electric 
lighting  system  has  been  made  notwithstanding  a  30  per  cent 
increase  in  the  price  of  material ;  20  per  cent  in  the  price  of 
labor  and  40  per  cent  in  the  price  of  fuel. 

The  city  has  paid  out  in  building  and  operating 

its  plants  a  total  of $  3,400,663.00 

To  have  rented  the  lamps  from  private  compa- 
nies would  have  cost 3,535,875.00 

"Two  things  are  to  be  noted,  the  first  that  the 
municipal  plant  is  conducted  efficiently  at  a  less  cost 
than  that  of  the  Edison  Company,  though  it  gives  a 
greater  return  to  la bor.  "—Chicago  Record- Herald,  May  19,  1902. 


34  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARBISON  UP  TO  DATE. 

Result:  The  city  has  saved  more  than  the  entire  cost  of 
its  municipal  lighting-  plants. 

In  1896  city  lighted  with  electricity,  miles  of  streets 90 

In  1902  city  lighted  with  electricity,  miles  of  streets 340 

Since  1896  electric  inspection  fees  paid  by  citizens 

have  been  reduced 40  per  cent 

In  1896  office  expenses  of  Gas  Bureau  were  over. .  .$  30,000.00 
To-day  this  Bureau  is  incorporated  in  Department 
of  Electricity,  effecting  reduction  in  expenses 
of  over 19,000.00 

'  'The  city  has  proved  its  capacity  to  run  a  lighting  plant  as 
well  as  a  water  plant.  Given  a  thorough  development  of  this 
activity  and  it  can  certainly  force  prices  down.  Why,  then, 
should  its  people  submit  to  the  exactions  of  the  private 
monopoly? 

"The  practical  answer  to  this  practical  question  is  that 
here  is  not  the  slightest  reason  for  submission,  and  this  partic- 
ular development  indicates  how  the  problem  of  municipal 
ownership,  generally  speaking,  is  likely  to  be  settled." 

Record-Herald,  May  19, 1902. 

BURIES  THE  WIRES.  In  the  years  1900,  1901  and  1902,  through 
pressure  brought  to  bear  by  the  Depart- 
ment of  Electricity,  the  various  telephone  and  telegraph  com- 
panies removed  their  poles  and  placed  underground  their 
wires,  from  over  90.5  miles  of  streets,  at  a  cost  to  the  compa 
nies  of  over  $1,100,000.00. 

Electrician  Ellicott 

"And  the  second,  that  the  governmental  com- 
petition must  tell  not  only  against  the  rivalry  of  elec- 
tric companies  but  against  that  of  the  gas  monopoly 
as  well.  "—Chicago  Record-Herald,  May  19,  1903. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE.  35 

TRACK   ELEVATION. 

ABOLISHING  DEADLY         The    stupendous   work   of    elevating   the 

GRADE  CROSSINGS.  steam   railroad    tracks   in    the    city    and 

thereby   ABOLISHING    THE    DEADLY    GRADE 

CROSSINGS,  has  been  pushed  with  vigor  and  success  unprece- 
dented. The  considering1  and  furthering  of  ordinances  for  this 
purpose  have  been  the  work  of  a  special  committee  of  the  City 
Council,  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  known  as  The  Mayor's 
Special  Committee  on  Track  Elevation. 

Under  all  former  administrations  grade  crossings 
actually  abolished  numbered 41 

During  Harrison's  administrations  grade  crossings 
actually  abolished  numbered 286 

Also  under  Harrison,  ordinances  have  been  passed  for 
track  elevation,  but  under  "which  work  is  not  yet 
completed,  to  abolish  grade  crossings,  in  number. .  422.33 

And  to  elevate  miles  of  track 54.81 

In  two  years  under  Swift  elevation  ordinances  passed, 

in  miles 17 

In  six  years  under  Harrison  elevation  ordinances 

passed,  in  miles 96 . 30 

Under  Swift  in  two  years,  miles  of  main  track  actually 

elevated 8.5 

Under  Harrison  in  six  years,  miles  of  main  track  actually 

elevated 54.81 

Under  Swift,  grade  crossings  actually  abolished 23 

Under  Harrison,  grade  crossings  actually  abolished  286 

Cost  of  track  elevation,  work  done  under  Swift.  .$  2  025,000.00 
Cost  of  track  elevation,  work  done  under  Harri- 
son  $17,680,000.00 

All  of  which  cost  was  paid  by  the  railroad  companies. 

— Reports  of  Track  Elevation  Department. 

"The  removal  of  grade  crossings  is  a  matter  the 
city  is  able  to  attend  to  and  is  attending  to  as  fast  as  it 
can.  It  has  induced  the  railroads  to  do  a  great  deal  of 
track  elevation,  and  the  roads  have,  paid  *11  the  bills— 
as  they  ought  to,  "—Chicago  Tribune,  March  12,  1903. 


36  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARBISON  UP  TO  DATE. 

TRIBUTE  FROM  MEN        Two  pioneers  of   Tack  elevation,   said  of 
WHO  KNOW.  Harrison  with  reference  to  track  elevation: 

"The  elevations  *  *  *  are  monuments  that  are  more 
eloquent  than  any  words  we  could  use.  We  thank  him  in  the 
name  of  those  for  whom  he  has  labored,  and  the  thousands 
whom  he  has  benefited  will  not  fail  to  show  him  that  they  are 
not  ungrateful  for  his  work." 

— Rev.  Father  Edward  A.  Kelly  and  Rev.  Father  P.  M.  Flannigan. 

CIVIL    SERVICE    COMMISSION    AND    ITS    WORK. 

APPOINTMENTS  TO  May  5,  1900,  the  Mayor  appointed  as  Com- 

THE  CIVIL  SERVICE  missioner  John  W.  Ela,  an  advocate  of  Civil 

COMMISSION.  Service  Reform  of  national  reputation. 

"John  W.  Ela  *  *  *  was  one  of  the  most  earnest 
advocates  of  the  merit  system  before  its  passage,  and  since  then 
has  championed  and  defended  the  law  and  merit  system  in  the 
courts.  No  appointee  who  might  have  been  selected  could  have 
been  more  thoroughly  committed  to  a  faithful  performance  of 
his  duties  by  an  ineffaceable  record.  The  appointment,  there- 
fore, is  a  conspicuously  fit  one. " 

—Chicago  Times-Herald,  May  6,  1900. 

This  was  followed  December  7,  1900,  by  the  excellent  ap- 
pointment of  Joseph  Powell,  as  Republican  member  of  the 
Commission. 

*  *  *  "His  career  and  associates  have  been  such  as  to 
indicate  that  he  will  be  true  to  the  merit  law.  There  can  be 
no  doubt  *  *  *  that  the  whole  Board  now  deserves  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  the  blic." 

—Chicago  Times-Herald,  December  9,  1900. 

4 'In  eastern  cities  the  roads  have  borne  only  a  part 
of  the  cost.  Here  the  pracice  is  different,  and  will 
coninae  so.  Chicago  does  not  need  the  services  of  a 
railroad  commission  to  apportion  expenses.  " 

—Chicago  Tribune,  March  12   1903. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  PATE.  37 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Ela,  Mayor  Harrison  appointed  Mr. 
Julian  W.  Mack  to  succeed  him. 

"  Mayor  Harrison's  selection  of  a  successor  to  the  late  Mr. 
Ela  on  the  civil  service  board  is  most  satisfactory.  Julian  W. 
Mack  is  and  has  been  for  years  a  consistent  supporter  of  the 
merit  system.  He  is  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  the  broadest 
application  of  this  system,  a  sound  and  well-known  lawyer,  a 
university  professor,  a  man  of  conviction,  education  and  cul- 
ture. As  Alderman  Jackson  expressed  it,  '  It  is  an  honor  to 
the  city  to  secure  a  man  of  Mr.  Mack's  attainments  for  such  a 
position.'" 

— Chicago  Evening  Post,  January  6,  1903. 


WORK  DONE  BY  THE        At  the  time  of  Mayor  Harrison's  first  in- 

COMMISSION.  auguration  the  greater  part  of  the  classified 

service  of  the  City  had  not  been  brought 

under  operation  of  the  Civil  Service  Law.  At  present  hardly 
a  position  in  the  classified  service  of  the  City  has  not  been 
brought  under  the  operation  of  the  law. 

The   following   table   gives  the  figures  as  to  examinations 
and  certifications: 

Number  of  examinations  to  April,  1897 142 

Number  of  examinations  under  Harrison's  administra- 
tions, to  March  1,  1908 567 

Number  of  Civil  Service  Certifications  to  May,  1897 i,792 

Number  of  Civil  Service  Certifications  since  May,  1897.   24,044 

— Report  of  Civil  Service  Commission. 


"As  it  (the  Civil  Service  Law)  is  now  being  faith- 
fully enforced,  employes  need  not  fear  to  stand  upon 
their  rights.  "—Chicago  Record-Herald,  Nov.  2,  1901. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARBISON  UP  TO  DATE. 


THE    COMPTROLLER'S     OFFICE. 

The  splendid  work  of  Robert  A.  Waller,  the  Mayor's  first 
Comptroller,  in  bringing  order  out  of  chaos  in  the  City's 
finances,  has  been  continued  with  marked  success  by  William 
D.  Kerfoot,  the  Comptroller  from  1899  to  1901,  and  by  his  suc- 
cessor, Lawrence  E.  McGann,  the  present  Comptroller. 

Of  Mr.  Kerfoot's  administration  the  Chicago  Tribune^ 
February  j,  1901,  said: 

"In  less  than  two  years  a  revolution  has  come  into  the 
affairs  of  the  office  of  Comptroller.  Bookkeeping  methods  have 
been  revolutionized.  The  indebtedness  of  the  City  has  been 
reduced  $2,000,000  without  increasing  the  City's  floating  debt. 
Bonds  of  the  City  have  been  sold  at  a  lower  rate  of  interest 
than  ever  before.  Special  assessment  accounts  have  been 
looked  into  and  unraveled  until  in  time  property  owners  will 
receive  rebates  due  to  them.  After  thirty  years  a  correct  bal- 
ance of  accounts  in  the  office  is  being  effected.  Trust  funds 
have  been  preserved  intact. " 

In  1900  the  bonded  indebtedness  was  reduced $503,600.00 

The  indebtedness  of  the  Water  System  was  reduced.  $500, 000.  CO 

In  1901  the  bonded  indebtedness  was  reduced $858,450.00 

In  1901  the  indebtedness  of  the  Water  System  was 

reduced $501,000.00 

In  1902  the  bonded  indebtedness  was  reduced $847,000.00 

In  1903  the  indebtedness  of  the  Water  System  was 

reduced $799,000.00 

— Comptroller's  Reports. 

Total  reduction  of  bonded  debt  under  Harrison $1,709.050 

Total  reduction  of  indebtedness  of  the  Water  Sys- 
tem under  Harrison $1,800.000 

"The  mayor's  appointments  will  give  general 
satisfaction,  and  are  a  pledge  of  a  clean  city  morally 
as  well  as  physically,  while  its  affairs  will  be  con- 
ducted on  business  lines.  "—Chicago  Journal,  April  30,  1901. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARKISOX  UP  TO  DATE.  39 

TRUST  FUNDS  HELD         The  Harrison  administration  of  the  City 

INVIOLABLE.  finances  has   been  the  first  to  keep  the 

sinking  funds  inviolable.      No  borrowing 

whatever  is  permitted  from  one  trust   fund  for  another,  or  for 
the  general  fund  for  the  City's  current  expenses 


CITY'S  BILLS  PAID  The  most  marked  financial  reform  effected 

SPOT  CASH.  under  Harrison  is  the  wiping  out  of  the 

time-dishonored  curse  of  unpaid  bills.    He 

who  sells  goods  to  the  City  now  gets  his  money  when  it  is  due 
him.  No  man  to-day  need  discount  a  bill  against  the  City. 
On  the  other  hand  the  city  now  discounts  its  bills  for  cash. 

In   1895  the  city's  unpaid  bills  of  the  previous 

years  amounted  to $  1,347,886.85 

In  1896  Swift's  administration  had  swelled  this 

amount  to $  2,243,729.97 

In  Harrison's  first  year  this  burden  was  reduced 

to $  850,646 . 00 

At  the  close  of  Harrison's  first  administration 

"unpaid  bills  '  were  reduced  to. .  $  489,941.41 

To-day,  at  the  end  of  Harrison's  third  term,  all 

indebtedness  for  "unpaid  bills"  is -wiped  out 

— City  Comptroller's  Books. 


REFORMATION  OF  Another   triumph   for    business    methods 

ACCOUNTING  SYSTEM.        will  be  found  in  the  complete  installation 

in  every  department  of  the  City  Hall  of  a 

uniform  method  of  accounting  and  a  system  of  auditing  by 
officials  retained  especially  for  that  purpose,  who  are  independ- 
ent of  all  departments. 

—Comptroller's  Hooks. 


"Comptroller  McGann's  faithfulness  to  duty,  his 
courage,  and  his  honesty  are  known  to  every  one  01 
his  fellow-citizens." — Chicago  Journal,  April  30,  1901. 


40  THE   TRUTH    ABOUT   HARRISON    UP   TO   DATE. 

• 

CITY  PRISON  REFORM  UNDER  HARRISON. 

THE  BRIDEWELL.  In  the  Bridewell    there    has  been    insti- 

tuted and  established  in  the  last  six  years 

a  garbage-burning  plant ;,  which  consumes  all  the  garbage  from 
the  Ninth  and  Tenth  wards"  and  all  the  garbage  from  the  Bride- 
well ;  green  houses  have  been  built  in  which  women  prisoners 
are  employed;  a  brush  factory  has  been  established,  the  brick 
yards  have  been  reopened,  a  cane  shop  has  been  established,  a 
soap  factory  has  been  established,  in  which  is  made  all  the  soap 
used  by  all  the  City  Departments;  a  street-broom  factory  has 
also  been  established,  in  which  are  made  all  the  brooms  used  on 
the  streets  by  City  employes;  and  additional  sanitary  improve- 
ments have  been  made. 

In  the  administration  of  the  institution  the  following  inno- 
vations have  been  made:  A  complete  separation  of  the  boys 
from  the  men  has  been  accomplished  through  the  medium  of 
the  John  Worthy  School.  Early  in  the  present  administration 
it  was  insisted  by  Mayor  Harrison  that  no  further  contracts 
should  be  entered  into  by  the  Bridewell  with  prison  contractors; 
all  t\i&  prisoners  are  kept  at  work  on  City  industries  and  for  the 
benefit  of  the  City  alone. 

INCREASED  EARNINGS.  This  method  has  increased  the  earnings 
from  an  average  of  $50,000  per  year  under 
contract  system  to  $117,000  under  the  Harrison  system. 

In  John  Worthy  School  all  cells  have  been  abolished. 

School  has  been  changed  from  a  penal  to  an  educational 
institution. 

PERMANENT  Modern      brick    plant     was    established 

IMPROVEMENTS.  in  1902  and  over  5,000,000  brick  furnished 

-to  city  and  used   by  it   on   intercepting 
sewers  and  other  city  work. 

Stone-crushing  plant,  daily  capacity  100  tons,  was  erected; 
stone  taken  from  the  quarry  on  grounds,  and  used  on  street 
repair  work. 

"Fire  Marshal  Musham's  appointment  is  an  ex- 
cellent example  of  the  working  of  the  merit  system 
and  the  banishment  of  political  influence— a  system 
which  has  made  the  Chicago  Fire  department  the  best 
in  the  country.  "—Chicago  Tribune,  June  26th,  1901. 


THE   TKUTH    ABOUT   HARRISON   CP  "TO   DATE.  41 

Large  addition  to  the  hospital  was  constructed  to  care  for 
victims  of  the  liquor  habit,  who,  after  April,  1902,  were  not 
cared  for  by  county  authorities  and  who  from  that  time  were 
taken  to  this  institution. 

New  quarters  for  women,  and  additional  cells  for  meti  were 
constructed,  and  despite  its  great  population,  each  inmate  is 
assigned  to  an  individual  eel! — a  humane  method  recognized  by 
the  U.  S.  Government. 

At  Harrison's  direction  four  acres  of  low  ground  abutting 
en  the  river  have  been  filled  in  and  plans  have  been  prepared 
and  an  appropriation  secured  for  a  large  addition  to  the  garbage 
crematory  constructed  in  1900  on  the  grounds,  which  consumes 
the  garbage  of  the  institution  and  vicinity. 

U.  S.  GOVERNMENT          For  the  first  time    in    fifteen    years    the 
RECOGNIZES  IT.  United  States  Government,  in  September, 

1902,  began  sending  prisoners  here. 

MANUFACTURE  At  Harrison's  request  the  Council  has  ap- 

OF  CREOSOTED  propriated  for  the  manufacture  of  creosoted 

PAVING  BLOCKS.  paving  blocks  at  this  institution  required 

by  the  city  for  permanent  pavements  at 
one-half  the  price  now  charged  for  these  blocks. 

—Council  Proceedings,  1902-1903,  page  2620. 

ECONOMICAL  ADMINIS-      An  average  daily  per  capita  cost  of  main- 

TRATION  OF  INSTITUTION,  tenance   of   thirty-three  cents,  in  contrast 

•with  forty  to  fifty  cents  average  daily  cost 

in  majority  of  similar  institutions  in  the  country  testifies  to  its 
economical  management. 

— Reports  of  thi  Sbuae  of  Correction. 

THE  JUVENILE  After  the  establishment  of  the  Juvenile 

COURT.  Court  for  the  care  £nd  disposition  of  de- 

pendent, and  delinquent  children,  at  the 

Mayor's   suggestion  a  representative  of  the  Law  Department 
was  directed  to  be  present  at  each  session  to  assist  the  Court. 

"Chief  O'Neill  is  redeeming  the  promise  implied 
in  his  appointment.    He  is  cleaning  the  city. " 

— Chicago  Journal,  June  25,  1901. 


42  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARBISON  UP  TO  DATE. 

"  An  appeal  was  made  to  the  Mayor  of  the  City,  Hon. 
Carter  H.  Harrison,  to  detail  a  number  of  fatherly  and  humane 
men  from  the  police  force  in  the  City,  to  be  appointed  as  pro- 
bation officers  of  the  Juvenile  Court.  The  detail  was  at  once 
made.  These  police  officers  have  been  of  great  service  in  the 
work.  In  fact,  it  is  hard  to  see  how,  without  their  assistance, 
the  work  could  have  been  carried  on. 

"The  Mayor  of  the  City  has  responded  to  every  appeal 
made  to  him  by  the  Court  for  assistance  in  the  enforcement  of 
this  law." 

— Judge  Richard  S.  Tut7iill,f  Presiding  Judge  of  Juvenile  Court,  in 

address  before  Illinois  State  Hoard  of  Charities,  November  14,  1900. 


ABOLISHES  INIQUITOUS     For  many  years  prior  to  the  present  ad- 
POLICE  JUSTICE  ministration  the  police  magistrates  took  as 

FEE  SYSTEM.  their  chief  compensation  the  costs  paid 

the  court.     The  practice  led  to  the  evils  of 
the  so-called  "Justice  Shop  System." 

The  Mayor,  in  his  annual  message,  April  n,  1898,  pointed 
out  the  evils  of  this  system  and  shortly  afterward  abolished 
them  entirely  by  requiring  that  all  fees  be  surrendered  by  the 
justices  to  the  City,  and  salaries  accepted  by  them  instead. 

"The  subject  long  seemed  hopeless  *  *  *  Then,  thanks 
largely  to  the  courageous  stand  of  a  chief  executive,  the  vice- 
breeding  fee  system  was  abolished  in  certain  of  the  courts,  and 
the  justices  were  put  on  salaries.  The  result  of  this  one  step 
*  *  *  w£s  a  decrease  of  25  to  40  per  cent  in  the  number 
of  arrests." 

— Chicago  Daily  News,  December  22,  1898. 


"Chief  O'Neill  is  doing  a  splendid  work  in  the 
right  way,  just  as  he  has  been  doing  from  the  begin- 
ning. "—Chicago  Journal,  June  21,  1901. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE.  43 

DEPARTMENT    OF    POLICE. 

GOOD  WORK  BY  The  Police    Department,  in   spite  of  the 

CHIEF  O'NEILL.  limited   funds  available   for   its  mainten- 

ance, makes  a  creditable  showing  in  com- 
parison with  the  Police  Departments  of  other  large  cities ;  for 
nstance,  New  York. 

Note  statistics  taken  from  the  Bulletin  of  United  States 
Department  of  Labor  for  September,  1900: 

New  York  spends  for  Police  Department  annually,  $1 1,591,697 
Chicago  spends  for  Police  Department  annually,     $   3,668,886 

New  York  has  7,637  policemen. 
Chicago  has  3,085  policemen. 

A  New  York  policeman  has  to  patrol  25.82  acres. 
A  Chicago  policeman  has  to  patrol  39.62  acres. 
New  York  has  one  policeman  for  every  450  people. 
Chicago  has  but  one  policeman  for  every  550  people. 

In  Chicago  last  year  the  police  recovered  lost  and  stolen 
property  to  the  value  of  $436,786;  restored  2,734  lost  children 
to  their  parents,  and  cared  for  10,381  sick  and  injured  persons. 

—Report  of  Police  Department  for  1902. 

44  We  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  there  is  less  crime 
in  Chicago  today  than  was  ever  before  known,  and  fewer  crim- 
inals. Not  only  so,  but  we  believe  there  is  no  large  city  in  the 
union  that  can  make  a  better  showing  in  this  respect  than  Chi- 
cago. 

4  4  The  truth  is  Chicago  was  never  better  governed  in  this 
respect  than  it  is  today,  and  Mayor  Harrison,  Chief  O'Neill 
and  the  whole  police  department  deserve  the  most  unstinted 
praise  for  this  condition." 

— Chicago  Journal,  November  29th,  1901. 

"What  the  Health  Department  has  accomplished, 
in  view  of  the  limited  means  at  its  command,  is  re- 
markable and  deserving  of  high  praise." 

—Chicago  Tribune,  July  21,  1902. 


44  THE   TRUTH   ABOUT   HAKRISON   UP   TO   DATE. 

FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

FIRE  DEPARTMENT'S         The  administration   of  the  Fire  Depart- 
EFF1CIENCY.  ment  admittedly  has  been  kept  up  to  its 

well-known  standard  of  efficiency. 
\ 

CHIEF  MUSHAM'S  "The  appointment  of  William  H.  Musham 

to  the  position  of  chief  of  the  fire  depart- 
ment will  be  generally  received  with  satisfaction.  The  confi- 
dence which  the  public  has  learned  to  repose  in  the  ability  and 
energy  of  the  firemen  engaged  in  protecting  life'and  property 
in  this  city  will  not  be  disturbed. 

Mayor  Harrison  is  entitled  to  public  commendation  for  an 
appointment  which  plainly  manifests  a  purpose  to  keep  the 
merit  system  in  the  fire  department  intact. " 

—Chicago  NemS,  June  25,  1901. 


HEALTH    DEPARTMENT. 

GOOD  WORK  OF  THE          When  Mayor  Harrison  took  office  he  placed 

HEALTH  DEPARTMENT,      the  Health  Department  under  the  control 

of  a  physician.     For  the  two  years  prior 

to  this  time  its  head  had  been  a  layman  without  medical  train- 
ing or  experience.  During  the  last  six  years  the  work  of  the 
Health  Department  has  reached  a  state  of  efficiency  never 
before  attained.  Its  monthly  bulletins  of  vital  statistics  and 
investigations  in  the  fields  of  sanitation  and  preventive  medi- 
cine are  highly  valued  by  the  press,  the  public  and  the  medical 
profession.  The  Philadelphia  Medical  Journal  April  28,  1900, 
said  of  these  bulletins : 


44 In  spite  of  the  dirty  streets  and  sooty  air  of 
Chicago  its  sanitary  condition  is  better  than  that  of 
Manhattan.  "—Chicago  Tribune,  July  31,  1902. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  BAUU1SON  UP  TO  DATE.  4f> 

"Physicians  who  are  fortunate  enough  to  receive  a  copy  of 
the  monthly  bulletin  of  the  Chicago  Department  of  Health  can- 
not fail  to  be  impressed  with  its  constantly  increasing  value, 
both  as  an  evidence  of  the  large  amount  of  work  well  done  and 
as  an  educational  factor  of  the  medical  profession  of  the  inland 
metropolis.  The  monthly  bulletin  from  Chicago  is  as  different 
from  and  superior  to  the  absolutely  inane  and  useless  list  of 
deaths  issued  weekly,  by  some  other  health  departments  as  day- 
is  different  from  and  superior  to  darkness. " 

. ' '  Few  persons  are  aware  of  the  real  value  of  careful  work 
done  in  the  Health  Commissioner's  office  in  the  way  of  scien- 
tific study  and  treatment  in  matters  intimately  connected  with 
the  health  of  the  City. " 

—Chicago  Daily  News,  July  10,  1899. 

The  London  Lancet,  the  eminent  English  authority,  said  of 
one  branch  of  the  Health  Department's  work,  April  15,  1899: 

"The  method  of  treatment  adopted  by  the  Health  Depart- 
ment of  Chicago  has  certainly  afforded  the  best  results  yet 
published  as  regards  the  use  of  antitoxin  in  diphtheria.  The 
system  of  investigation  so  admirably  carried  out  has  been  the 
means  of  presenting  the  medical  world  with  a  very  complete 
system  of  medical  statistics,  and  it  would  be  most  instructive 
if  other  municipal  bodies  would  arrange  for  similar  investiga- 
tion so  as  to  test  what  is  practically  one  of  the  greatest  medical 
discoveries  of  the  present  century." 

" 'The  City  Council,  particularly  the  republican 
majority,  has  been  making  a  pitiful  spectacle  of  itself. 
The  Mayor  recommends  some  measure,  and  the  alder- 
men tumble  into  line  and  go  over  the  mayoralty  hurdle 
like  a  lot  Of  circus  horses,  " — Chicago  Journal,  February  26,1902. 


46  THE   TRUTH   ABOUT   HAKKISON   UP   TO   BATE. 

"An  Admirably  Conducted  Bureau — The  rapid  decrease 
in  the  prevalence  of  typhoid  fever  and  the  greatly  reduced 
mortality  from  that  disease  are  facts  which  constitute  a  tribute 
to  the  efficiency  of  the  city  health  department," 

—  The  Chicago  Chronicle,  October  7,  1902. 

"  Dr.  Reynolds,  the  head  of  the  Chicago  Board  of  Health, 
is  probably  not  quite  so  august  as  the  New  York  functionary. 
At  any  rate,  he  seems  to  regard  the  general  public  and  its 
health  as  less  beneath  his  notice,  and  gets  out  a  great  many 
bulletins  for  its  information  and  guidance  that  never  appear  to 
be  dreamed  of  in  the  New  Yorker's  philosophy.  In  one  of 
these,  recently  issued,  Dr.  Reynolds  calls  attention  to  the  con- 
tagious feature  of  pneumonia,  which  the  general  public  does 
not  appear  to  understand,  and  emphasizes  the  necessity  for 
caution." 

Brooklyn  Eagle,  February  22,  1903. 

The  Department  won  gold  medals  at  both  the  Paris 
exposition  and  the  Pan- American  exposition  at  Buffalo. 

OTHER   WORK. 

CITY  SEALER'S  For  the  first  time  almost  in  the  history  of 

WORK.  the   department   the   City   Sealer's   office 

has,     under     Harrison's     administration, 
performed  the  duties  for  which  it  was  created. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  City  Sealer,  November  19, 
1900,  a  new  ordinance  was  passed  by  the  City  Council  regulating 

"The  Mayor  has  done  a  most  excellent  thing  in 
notifying  the  managers  of  the  various  theaters  in  the 
city  that  on  and  after  February  15  the  patrolmen 
assigned  to  them  will  be  charged  for  at  the  regular 
rate  charged  by  the  department  for  special  details.  " 

— Chicago  Journal,  February  14,  1902. 


THE  TRUTH   ABOUT   HARBISON   UP   TO   DATE.  47 

and  fixing  the  size  of  coal  baskets  and  milk  bottles.  On  his 
recommendation  a  new  bread  ordinance  was  introduced  in  the 
Council  and  passed. 

— Council  Proceedings,  1 900-1901,  page  2146. 

The  administration  of  the  office  has  been  particularly  dili- 
gent, as  newspaper  readers  have  noted.  Vigorous  prosecutions 
have  been  made  of  short- weight  coal  dealers,  which  resulted  in 
fines  in  each  instance.  Peddlers  and  all  sellers  of  commodities 
by  weights  and  measures  have  been  vigorously  prosecuted  in 
every  instance  where  the  vigilance  of  the  City  Sealer  has  dis- 
closed the  fact  that  short  weights  or  measures  were  being  used. 

CITY  GETS  RECEIPTS  The  Oil  Inspector's  office  shows  to-day 
FROM  OIL  INSPECTION,  increased  income,  as  follows: 

Two  years'  receipts  under  Swift $      999. 56 

Receipts  for  the  year  1902  under  Harrison 12,402.42 

Add  for  1902  claim  in  suit  by  City  against  Standard 

Oil  Company 9,649.79 

$22,052.22 
— Comptroller's  Books. 

THE  MUNICIPAL  LODGING     The  Mayor  recommended  to  the  Coun- 

HOUSE.  cil,  through  its  Finance  Committee,  the 

establishment  of  a  Municipal  Lodging 

House  upon  the  lines  of  the  one  in  successful  operation  in  the 
City  of  New  York,  by  which  the  really  deserving  poor  are 
helped  to  employment  and  the  actual  tramps  and  vagrants  sent 
to  the  City  prison.  This  is  now  in  successful  operation. 

HARRISON  PROTECTS  The  records  of  the  City  Clerk's  office  show 
RESIDENCE  DISTRICTS,  numerous  applications  for  licenses  to 
CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS  maintain  saloons  in  residence  districts 
AGAINST  SALOONS.  which  have  been  refused  in  every  instance 

by  Mayor  Harrison.    In  every  part  of  the 
City,  saloons   in   residence   districts,  or  within  200  feet  of  any 

"Almost  anything  the  Mayor  stands  for  the  repub- 
lican majority  and  the  democratic  minority  indorse. 
In  five  years  the  Mayor's  veto  has  been  overridden 
but  three  times.  Yet  when  politics  begin  to  wa^m  up 
the  republican  aldermen  tell  the  people  what  a  fright- 
ful Mayor  Chicago  has.  " — Chicago  Journal,  February  26, 1901. 


48  THE   TRUTH   ABOUT    HAKKJSON   UP   TO   DATE. 

church  or  school,  are  absolutely  prohibited  by  Mayor  Harrison. 
The  local  Hyde  Park  ordinances  restricting  the  sale  of 
liquor  have  been  repeatedly  fought  for  and  sustained  in  the 
Circuit,  Appellate  and  Supreme  Courts  of  this  State  by  the 
City  Law  Department  by  Mayor  Harrison's  direction.  That  > 
the  people  of  Hyde  Park  acknowledge  and  have  reason  to  be 
grateful  for  the  administration's  attitude  on  this  question  ap- 
pears from  late  reports  of  the  Hyde  Park  Protective  Association. 

SUPPRESSION  OF  The   Mayor  has  always  been  a  vigorous 

BLIND  PIGS.  and  unrelenting  foe  of  the  "blind  pigs," 

that  is,  places  where  liquors  are  sold  with- 
out a  license.  The  task  of  eradicating  them  has  always  proved 
most  difficult.  In  the  summer  of  1900  the  Mayor  placed  the 
matter  in  the  hands  of  Corporation  Counsel  Walker,  with  in- 
structions to  proceed  against  them,  with  the  result  that  all  the 
blindfpigs  were  driven  from  Hyde  Park  for  the  first  time  in  its 
history. 

' '  There  are  no  more  blind  pigs,  and  I  hope  this  condition 
will  last.  *  *  *  I  must  say  that  under  Mr.  Walker,  the 
Hyde  Park  Protective'  Association  and  the  lovers  of  the  law  in 
the  Prohibition  District  have  received  more  aid  than  ever 
before.  Mr.  Walker's  work  cannot  be  extolled  too  highly." 

— Mr.  Arthur  Burrage  Farwell,  Secretary  of  the  Hydt  Park  Prottctivt  Association,  in 
the  Chicago  Daily  News  oj  August  8,  1900. 

February  24,  1902,  Secretary  Brintnall,  of  the  Hyde  Park 
Association,  wrote  Mayor  Harrison's  Law  Department:  "We 
congratulate  you  on  the  splendid  victory  in  the  Germania  case 
in  the  Superior  Court,  and  express  our  appreciation  of  your 
loyal  and  continuous  support  of  the  Hyde  Park  people  in  their 
long  contest  for  protection  of  their  homes. " 

To  a  man  up  a  tree  it  would  seem  that  either 
the  Mayor  is  radically  wrong  and  the  Alderman  are  a 
lot  of  wooden  Indians  or  the  Mayor  is  an  angel  and 
ihe  Republican  Aldermen  are  a  lot  of  hypocrites." 

—Chicago  Journal,  February  26,  1902. 


THE   TRUTH   ABOUT   HAllKISOX   UP   TO   DATE.  49 

HARRISON    ENFORCES  THE    PRINCIPLE  "INTEREST  ON 
PUBLIC    FUNDS    BELONGS  TO   THE    PUBLIC." 

HARRISON  STOPS  Harrison  was  the   first   man   officially  to 

COUNTY  TREASURER'S  call  attention  to  the  enormous  amounts  in 
LOOT  OF  INTEREST  ON  interest  on  public  funds  received  annually 
PUBLIC  FUNDS.  by  the  County  Treasurer,  all  of  which 

was  appropriated  to  his  own  private  use, 
and  to  take  active  steps  to  recover  it  for  the  public. 

In  October,  1901,  Mayor  Harrison  consulted  his  Corpora- 
tion Counsel,  who  gave  an  opinion,  the  gist  of  which  was  "in- 
terest on  public  funds  belongs  to  the  public."  The  Mayor  de- 
manded the  City's  share  of  interest  received.  It  was  refused. 
He  then  directed  that  suits  be  brought  against  the  Treasurer 
to  make  him  account  for  the  interest  and  to  compel  his  bonds- 
men to  stand  good  for  the  amount  found  due.  These  suits  are 
now  pending  and  awaiting  an  early  trial.  The  result  of  this 
agitation  has  been  that  the  County  Treasurer  and  no  longer 
receives  that  interest  for  himself — estimated  at  more  than 
$100,000  annually. 

AND  COMPELS  It  has  been  and  is  the  practice  of  the  City 

REDUCTION  OF  CITY  to  give  a  percentage  of  the  interest  on  its 

TREASURER'S  COMPEN-  funds  to  the  City  Treasurer  for  his  com- 

SATION  IN. INTEREST.  pensation  and  expenses. 

The  City  Council  in  the  appropriation  bill  for  1903  fixed 
this  compensation  of  the  City  Treasurer  at  50  per  cent  of  the 
amount  of  the  interest  on  public  funds  in  his  hands.  This,  it 
was  estimated,  would  yield  to  the  Treasurer  a  net  annual  return 
of  more  than 


"At  this  point  Mayor  Harrison  came  to  the  front  by  putting 
a  plank  in  the  Democratic  platform  pledging  the  candidate  of 
that  party  to  a  net  income  of  $15,000.  Mr.  Harrison  followed 

"Above  all,  he  has  stood  like  a  rock  in  front  of 
the  audacious  Allen  law,  and  by  his  determined  atti- 
tude he  has  nullified  the  schemes  of  the  Traction  Com- 
panies that  -would have  profited  by  that  nefarious 

measure."— Chicago  Evening  Post,  March  17,  1899. 


50  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE. 

this  by  amending  the  budget  by  reducing  the  50  per  cent  to  be 
retained  by  the  Treasurer  to  35  per  cent  and,  stung  into  action, 
the  City  Council  still  further  reduced  it  to  25  per  cent. "  *  * 
*  *  Mr.  Harrison  "is  to  be  congratulated  on  knowing  an  oppor- 
tunity when  he  sees  it,  and  the  city  on  the  saving  effected 

through  him. "  —Chicago  Xecord-Herald,  March  22,  1903. 


THE  CORPORATION  COUNSEL'S  OFFICE. 

A  MAYOR'S  The    Mayor     appoints     the    Corporation 

RESPONSIBILITY.  Counsel.      "One  can    hardly   realize  the 

magnitude  of  the  office  of  the  Corporation 

Counsel  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  the  responsibility  he  has  at 
times  to  assume,  and  the  vast  legal  interests  that  are  submitted 
to  his  care. 


RESULTS  SHOW.  WHAT       Corporation  Counsel    Charles  M.  Walker 
HE  STANDS  FOR  has  conducted   the   business  of  his  office 

AND  AGAINST.  with  great  ability,  and  for  the  best  inter- 

ests of  the  city.     He  has  so  directed  his 
able  assistants  as  to  secure  the  very  best  results." 

—  Tht  Chicago  Legal  News,  Januarys,  1903,  Vol.  35,  page  116. 
The  leading  legal  publication  of  the   West. 


"Rewards  the  Corporation  Counsel — -Instead  of 
using  up  all  of  his  appropriation  of  $86,OOO  last  year, 
Corporation  Counsel  Walker  turned  back  $16,OOO  of 
it  into  the  city  treasury  December  31.  In  recogni- 
tion of  this  the  Finance  Committee  made  him  the 
same  appropiation  fpr!9O3." 

— Chicago  Chronicle,  March  1,  1903. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  DARRISOX  UP  TO  DATE.  51 

Following  Are  Some  Results   Under  Harrison: 

SOME  GREAT  VICTORIES    In  I'llinois  Central  Railway  Company  vs. 

FOR  GREAT  PRINCIPLES.  Chicago,  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court  affirmed  the  judgments  of  the 

Superior  Court  of  Cook  County  and  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois 

(173  111.,  471),  restraining  the  Illinois  Central  Railway  Com- 
pany from  constructing  a  round-house  on 

SAVES  THE  made   land  on  the   Lake  Front,  thereby 

LAKE  FRONT.  affirming  the  title  of  the  People  of  the 

State  of  Illinois  and  City  of  Chicago  to 

the  made  land  along  the  shore  of  La>e  Michigan — a  decision  of 

incalculable  value  to  the  city. 

/.  C.  Ry.  Co.  vs.  Chicago \  176  U.  S.  Repts.  p.  646. 


WINS  SEVENTY-FIVE         The  United  States  Circuit  Court,  in  the 
CENT  GAS  CASE  case  of  Peoples  Gas  Light  and  Coke  Com- 

IN  U.  S.  COURT.  pany  vs.    City  of  Chicago,   case   number 

25,780,  sustained  the  validity  of  the  ordi- 
nance limiting  price  of  gas  to  seventy- five  cents.  The  Com- 
pany has  appealed  to  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  and  filed  a 
bond  of  $600,000. 


DEFEATS  ATTEMPT  TO      In  two  suits  entitled    William  L.  Elkins 
ESTABLISH  RIGHTS  vs.  City  of  Chicago,  et  al.,  cases  number 

UNDER  99-YEAR  ACT          25,932  and  25,933  in  the   United    States 
IN  U.  S.  COURT.  Circuit  Court,   the  City  again   won,   and 

complainant  appealed  to  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court,  where  cases  are  now  pending. 


"If  he  had  been  less  strong  and  less  courageous, 
if  for  a  moment  he  had  shown  the  least  indication  of 
wavering,  he  would  have  been  run  over  by  the  Tru- 
culent Council,  and  the  people  would  have  lost  their 
rights.  For  this  courageous  attitude  Mayor  Harrison 
deserves  the  thanks  of  all  good  citizens." 

—Chicago  Evening  Post,  March  17,  1899, 


52  THE  TRUTH   ABOUT   HARBISON1   UP   TO   DATE. 


ESTABLISHES  POLICE  Another  victory  for  the  City's  Police 
POWER  TO  COMPEL  Power.  In  City  of  Chicago  vs.  Chicago 

STREET  RAILROAD  Union    Traction    Company,   the  City  had 

COMPANIES  TO  CLEAN  been  defeated  in  the  Criminal  Court 
RIGHTS  OF  WAY.  (Judge  Holdom)  in  its  attempt  to  compel 

the  Chicago  Union  Traction  Company  to 

clean  its  rights  of  way,  but  upon  appeal  to  the  Supreme  Court, 
that  court  held  that  the  City  had  the  power  to  compel  street 
railroad  companies  to  clean  their  rights  of  way. 

Chicago  vs.  C.  U.  T.  Co.,  199  111.,  p.  259. 

This  will  save  the  City  more  than  $200,000  per  year. 

— Commissioner  of  Public  Works. 


THE  CELEBRATED  In  the  eleven  well  known   Transfer  Cases 

TRANSFER  CASES.  the  City  won  great  victories  for  the  people. 

The  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  affirmed  the  Superior 
Court  of  Cook  County  in  entering  fines  against  the  Union 
and  Consolidated  Traction  Companies  in  suits  brought  by  the 
City  for  failure  to  give  transfers. 

Chicago  Union  Traction  Company  vs.  Chicago,  199  111., 
pp.    579-684. 

The  companies  have  paid  the  fines,  court  costs  and  entire 
expenses  of  the  City  in  trying  the  cases,  and  are  giving  trans- 
fers entitling  passengers  to  continuous  rides  for  one  fare,  five 
cents. 


HALF  FARE  Immediately    after     these    decisions   the 

FOR  CHILDREN.  Corporation    Counsel     succeeded    in    his 

efforts  to  require  street  railways  to  carry 
children   for  half  fare. 


POLICE  POWER  OF  In  the  Burlington  case  the  City  established 

CITY  TO  ENFORCE  its  police  power  to  compel  steam  railroads 

TRACK  ELEVATION.  to  elevate  their  tracks. 

181  111.,  p.  605. 


THE   TKUTH    ABOUT   HARRISON   UP   TO   DATE.  53 

RAILROAD  COMPANIES  In  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  R.  R. 

MUST  NOW  CONSTRUCT  Co.    vs.    City   of    Chicago,    the    Supreme 

AND  REPAIR  VIADUCTS  Court  held  the  company  liable  for  the  ccn 

AND  APPROACHES;  NOT  struction  and  maintenance  of  viaducts  and 

THE  CITY  approaches  over  street  crossings. 

C.,  M.  &  St.  P.  Ry.  Co.  vs.  City  of  Chicago,  183  111.,  p   341. 


OUSTS  LAWLESS  February  18,  1903,  th^  Supreme  Court  of 

STREET  RAILROAD.  Illinois  affirmed  the  Circuit  Court  (Judge 

Tuley),  holding  that  the  City  had  right- 
fully forfeited  the  franchise  of  the  Suburban  Railroad  Com- 
pany to  operate  on  certain  streets,  and  that  the  City  had 
authority  to  cause  the  removal  of  the  tracks.  Pending  on 
petition  for  rehearing. 


PROTECTS  CHICAGO  October  14,  1902,  in  Deeringvs.  Chicago, 

AND  CALUMET  RIVERS.      Case  number   26,003,    the   U.   S.  Circuit 

Court  confirmed  the  authority  of  the  City 

over  the  Chicago  River  and  refused  to  restrain  the  City  from 
preventing  the  construction  of  a  dock  in  the  north  branch  of 
the  Chicago  River,  which  would  narrow  the  width  of  the  chan- 
nel and  be  an  appropriation  of  a  portion  of  public  waterway. 

February  23,  1903,  the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  in 
the  two  cases  of  Calumet  Grain  and  Elevator  Company  and 
Cummings  vs.  Chicago,  affirmed  decrees  of  the  United  States 
Circuit  Court  confirming  the  same  power  of  the  municipality 
over  the  Calumet  River. 

(Decision  not  yet  printed). 


RECLAIMS  LOST  In  Eisendrath  vs.   Chicago,   the  Supreme 

STREETS.  Court  of   Illinois  affirmed  a   judgment  of 

the  Circuit  Court  of  Cook  County  finding 

that  Sangamon  street,  from  Drx  street  to  the  north  branch  of 
the  Chicago  River,  was  a  public  street.  For  many  years  this 
street  had  not  been  used  by  the  public,  adjoining  property 
owners  having  encroached  upon  it  so  that  it  was  entirely  lost  to 
the  public. 

th  vs.  Chicago,  192  111.,  p   320. 


54  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE. 

In  Shirk  vs.  Chicago  the  Supreme  Court  affirmed  the  title 
of  the  people  to  a  "strip  of  land  thirty  feet  in  width  on  the  east 
side  of  Michigan  avenue,  between  i  zth  street  and  Park  Row 
(part  of  a  street  in  the  heart  of  the  City),  the  use  of  which  the 
public  had  been  deprived  of  for  a  long-  period  of  years. 
Shirk  vs.  Chieago,  195  111.,  p.  298. 


LOWERS  BUSINESS          February  9,  1903,  the  Appellate  Court  in 

TELEPHONE  RATES.          the  case   of   City  of  Chicago,   et.   al.  vs. 

Chicago  Telephone  Company  (decision  not 

printed),  a  proceeding  instituted  upon  the  strength  of  an  opinion 
rendered  by  the  Corporation  Counsel  to  the  City  Council, 
enjoined  the  Telephone  Company  from  charging  a  rate  per 
annum  of  more  than  $125  (it  was  charging  $175)  for  business 
telephones  with  long  distance  equipments. 


PROTECTS  HOMES  OF        In  three  attacks    upon  the   Hyde   Park 
HYDE  PARK.  Liquor   Ordinance,   the    Supreme    Court 

sustained  the  validity  of  the  Hyde   Park 
Liquor  Ordinance  and  the  position  taken  by  the  Mayor. 

People  ex.  rel.  Hinch  vs.  Harrison,   185  111.,  page  307. 
Harrison  vs.    People  ex.    rel.    Boetter,    195  111.,  466, 

reversed,  97  111.,  App.  434. 

People  ex.  rel.   Krause  vs.  Harrison,  reversed,  92  111., 
App.  643. 


SUSTAINS  THE  MAYOR  IN  In  Harrison  vs.  People  ex.  rel.  Jaeger,  the 
REFUSING  LICENSE  TO  Appellate  Court  reversed  an  order  of  the 
BOWLING  ALLEY  IN  RESI-  Circuit  Court  (Judge  Hanecy)  compelling 
DENCE  NEIGHBORHOOD  the  Mayor  to'  issue  a  license  for  the  opera- 
AND  NEAR  CHURCH.  tion  of  a  bowling  alley  in  a  residence 

neighborhood  and  near  by  a  church,  hold- 
ing that  the  Mayor  had  a  discretion  in  the  issuance  of  such  a 
license  and  that  he  had  properly  exercised  such  discretion. 

Harrison  vs,  People,  ex.  rel.  Jaeger,  roi  ///.   App.,  p.  224. 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARBISON  UP  TO  DATE.  55 

ENFORCED  PAYMENTS  OF    The  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  in  Chicago 
COMPENSATION  BY  General  Ry.    Co.  vs.    Chicago,  held   the 

STREET  RAILWAY  street  railroad  company  liable  to  the  city 

COMPANIES.  for  the  payment  of  $2,250  for  a  mileage 

tax  under  its  franchise,  and  Feb.  7,  1900, 

the   company  paid   into  the   City  Treasury  said   amount,  with 
costs  and  interest  amounting  to  $2,628.  71. 

Chicago  General  Ry.  Co.  vs.  Chicago,  176  111.  253. 


The  City  recovered  a  judgment  in  the  Superior  Court  of 
Cook  County,  Case  No.  204,240,  against  the  Chicago  and  South 
Side  Rapid  Transit  Railroad  Company  (Alley  "L")  for  $12,- 
981.93,  the  amount  due  the  city  for  mileage  tax  under  the 
terms  of  the  company's  franchise  for  five  years,  which  judg- 
ment, together  with  court  costs  and  interest,  making  a  total 
amount  of  $13,074.07,  has  been  paid. 

A  judgment 'was  also  entered  against  the  Lake  Street  Ele- 
vated Railway  Company  for  similar  compensation  due  for  seven 
years'  arrears,  by  the  Circuit  Court  of  Cook  County,  Case  No. 
204, 176,  for  the  sum  of  $13,374.42,  which  also  has  been  paid. 

Payments  by  street  railway  companies  and  elevated  roads 
to  the  City  were: 

In  1899 $  79,645  61 

In  1900 105,058.09 

In  1901 120,898.64 

"The  marked  increase  during  the  past  two  years  is 
attributed  to  the  successful  efforts  made  by  the  City  of  Chicago 
in  exacting  payments  from  companies  which  were  in  arrears  or 
delinquent.  The  material  assistance  rendered  by  the  Corpora- 
tion Counsel  is  highly  appreciated  by  this  department  " 

— City  Collector's  fitport  of  December  31, 1902. 


56  THE   TRUTH   ABOTTT   HARRISON   UP   TO   DATE. 

RENEWAL  OF  STREET  RAILWAY  FRANCHISES  THE  MAIN 
QUESTION  THE  NEXT  MAYOR  OF  CHICAGO  WILL  HAVE 
TO  MEET. 

THE  QUESTION  These  remarks   apply  to-day:     "Chicago's 

STATED.  Mayoralty    campaign.        The    underlying 

question  of  the  campaign  will  be:  Shall  tJie  public,  through  the 
City  Council  and  the  Mayor,  or  shall  the  street  railway  corpora- 
tions control  the  streets  and  the  systems  of  taxation  to  be  imposed 
upon  corporations  using  the  streets?  *  *  *  The  Republicans 
have  partly  fallen  into  the  control  of  the  companies  through  the 
workings  of  the  party  machine,  dominated  by  Congressman 
William  Lorimer.  It  is  his  purpose  that  a  Mayor  and 
Council  shall  be  chosen  which  will  be  favorable  to  the  wishes  of 
the  street  railways.  *  *  *  If  Mayor  Harrison  is  re-elected 
it  is  a  foregone  conclusion  that  street  railway  control  of  local 
legislation  is  ended  forever,  and  that  the  corporations  will  have 
to  pay  handsomely  hereafter  for  franchises. " 

—  The  New  York  Evening  Post,  January  30,  1901. 


"Mayor  Harrison's  unswerving  loyalty  to  the 
people  in  their  battle  against  the  dishonest  assaults  of 
the  Traction  Companies,  his  success  in  defeating  the 
would-be  grabbers,  and  in  forcing  the  repeal  of  the 
Allen  law,  and  his  intelligent  and  patient  effort  to 
equitably  solve  the  street  railway  franchise  problem 
for  this  City,  have  very  naturally  commended  him  to 
the  favor  of  those  voters  who,  regardless  of  party 
predilections,  believe  in  sustaining  a  tried  and  com- 
petent public  official.  "—Chicago  Daily  News,  March  8,  1901. 


THE   TRUTH    ABOUT   HARRISON"    UP   TO   DATE.  57 

MAYOR  HARRISON'S  POSITION    ON   TRACTION    STATED. 

In  1899  Mayor  Harrison  outlined  the  conditions  on  which 
he  believed  the  traction  question  might  be  settled  with  justice 
to  the  street  railway  companies  and  with  full  consideration  of 
the  people's  rights.  The  conditions  were  as  follows: 

"  The  passage  by  the  Legislature  of  a  municipal  ownership 
enabling  act ;  this  to  be  an  absolute  prerequisite  to  any  consid- 
eration of  the  traction  question.  The  reference  of  all  proposed 
extension  ordinances  to  a  vote  of  the  people  for  their  sanction 
and  endorsement.  An  improvement  of  accommodations  which 
will  do  away  with  the  present  uncomfortable,  unwholesome  and 
indecent  overcrowding  of  cars.  Adequate  compensation  in  the 
form  either  of  a  percentage  of  gross  receipts  into  the  treasury 
as  a  trust  fund,  to  be  expended  solely  upon  the  public  streets, 
a  reduction  of  fares,  or  a  combination  of  both  forms.  An 
express  waiver  of  all  alleged  rights  under  the  ninety-nine-year 
act.  Provision  for  municipal  ownership  at  the  earliest  possible 
date.  The  simultaneous  expiration  of  all  franchises  on  or 
before  twenty  years  from  date  of  grant,  and  the  express  prohi- 
bition of  the  transfer  of  a  franchise  to  a  foreign  corporation. 
The  tise  of  the  underground  trolley  within  certain  boundaries ; 
the  realignment  of  terminals  that  transportation  may  be  rapid 
and  street  congestion  avoided ;  the  use  of  modern  grooved  rails 
in  all  paved  streets,  and  the  paving  of  rights  of  way  by  the 
traction  companies  with  asphalt  or  dressed  granite  block.  A 
universal  system  of  transfers.  Full  publicity  of  accounts.  A 
system  of  arbitration  for  the  settlement  of  disputes  arising 
between  traction  companies  and  their  employes.  A  single  car 
service  instead  of  the  present  train  service. " 


58  THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  HARBISON  UP  TO  DATE. 

99  YEAR  ACT  Mayor  Harrison  demanded  the  waiver  of 

all  alleged  rights  claimed  under  the  99 
year  act,  because  for  twenty  years  the  street  railway  companies 
have  held  this  infamous  measure  as  a  club  over  the  people  of 
Chicago  whenever  a  settlement  of  the  traction  question  has 
been  broached.  Twenty  years  ago  when  the  franchises  were 
last  extended  the  adjudication  of  the  99  year  act  was  postponed 
to  be  taken  up  during  the  life  of  the  franchise  then  granted. 
Twenty  years  have  passed  and  the  act  is  still  uncontested,  still 
unsettled.  To-day  the  traction  magnates  again  ask  an  exten- 
sion of  franchise,  and  again  demand  a  postponement  of  the  99 
year  act  controversy,  to  be  taken  up  at  some  time  during  the 
life  of  the  proposed  extended  ordinances.  Should  this  be  done 
another  twenty  years  will  pass,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  the 
same  club — the  alleged  rights  of  the  companies  under  the  99 
year  act — will  be  swung  over  the  heads  of  the  citizens  of  Chi- 
cago, and  again  the  traction  magnates  will  propose  a  new  exten- 
sion of  their  ordinance,  a  new  postponement  of  adjudication  of 
the  tights  claimed  under  the  99  year  act  and  so  on  ad  infinitum. 

MUNICIPAL  OWNERSHIP  Mayor  Harrison  demanded  the  passage  of 
ENABLING  LEGIS-  municipal  ownership  enabling  legislation 

LATION.  as  a  prerequisite  to  the  granting  of  new 

franchises.  Why?  Because  if  the  fran- 
chises be  extended  prior  to  the  passage  of  such  legislation  it 
will  be  made  altogether  too  easy  for  the  traction  companies  in 
the  many  devious  ways  known  to  their  kind  to  block  the  legis- 
lation which  would  give  Chicago  the  right  to  own  and  control 
its  utilities. 

REFERENDUM.  Mayor   Harrison  also  demanded  the  pas- 

sage by  the  Legislature   of  an  act  which 

would  take  from  the  Mayor  the  veto  power  on  street  railway 
legislation,  now  vested  in  him  as  a  means  of  protecting  the 
people's  property  and  their  rights,  and  would  transfer  that  veto 
power  to  the  people  to  whom  it  properly  belongs. 


THE   TKUTH   ABOUT  HAflRISOX   UP  TO  DATE.  59 

In  this  same  message  Mayor  Harrison  wrote  the  following 
words: 

"One  hears  occasional  criticism  of  the  failure  of  the 
present  city  administration  to  pass  constructive  street  railway 
legislation.  Whenever  the  traction  companies  are  ready  to 
take  up  a  settlement  of  the  question  upon  the  foregoing  lines 
constructive  legislation  may  readily  be  had.  Until  they  express 
a  willingness  to  approach  the  question  with  due  regard  for  the 
rights  of  the  citizens  no  honest-minded  critic  can  find  fault  with 
the  city  administration  for  its  neglect  to  pass  constructive  legis- 
lation." 

In  the  years  Mr.  Harrison  has  been  Mayor  three  oppor- 
tunities have  been  presented  to  him  to  settle  the  traction  ques- 
tion. He  was  first  given  the  chance  when  the  Humphrey  law 
was  under  consideration  by  the  Legislature  of  Illinois — a  pro- 
posed law  whose  defeat  was  in  larger  measure  due  to  his  stand 
than  to  any  other  agency.  The  second  opportunity  was  pre- 
sented when  Charles  T.  Yerkes  asked  of  the  City  Council  of  the 
City  of  Chicago  the  passage  of  the  so-called  fifty  year  ordinances. 
What  Mayor  Harrison's  services  were  in  defeating  this  obnox- 
ious measure  is  known  to  all  citizens.  The  third  opportunity 
came  when  two  months  ago  the  representatives  of  the  traction 
companies  appeared  before  the  Local  Transportation  Commit- 
tee to  present  their  case. 

THE  99  YEAR  ACT  All  went   swimmingly  until  the  question 

STUMBLING  BLOCK  arose  as  to   what   disposition   should   be 

made  of  the  rights  claimed  by  the  com- 
panies under  the  99  year  act.  Here  horns  were  locked  and  the 
conferences  were  ended.  The  representatives  of  the  eastern 
holders  of  stock  in  the  Union  Traction  Company  returned  to 
New  York,  leaving  this  word  behind — 


30  "    THE   TRCTH    ABOVT   HARRISON   VP   TO    DATE. 


THE  MAYORS'  DEFEAT       That   they  would   not   return  to  Chicago 
IS  THE  TRACTION  until    after  the   municipal    election,     and 

COMPANIES'  HOPE.  when  they  would  return  they  might  find  a 

new  occupant  in  the  Mayor's  chair. 


THE     MAYOR'S    SPEECHES. 

This  is  Mayor  Harrison's  record  as  an  "obstructionist." 

.  A  fair  statement: 

"Of  Mr.  Harrison  it  may  properly  be  said  in  his  favor  that 
his  integrity  is  unquestioned;  that  his  record  in  defending  the 
rights  of  Chicago  in  the  traction  issues  is  a  tremendous  element 
of  strength ;  that  honest  men  will  love  him  for  the  enemies 
he  has  made  in  the  ranks  of  his  own  party;  that  his  election 
will  make  sure  that  no  cooked-up  bipartisan  judicial  ticket  will 
be  forced  on  the  voters  in  June  in  order  that  incompetents  or 
worse  may  be  kept  on  the  bench ;  that  above  all  that  when  the 
traction  question  is  settled  it  will  be  settled  in  the  interest  of 
the  people  of  Chicago." 

—  The  llecord- Herald,  March  25,  1903. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

,T  HARRISON  UP  TO  DATE  TOLD 


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